A step forward — but the cost of waiting is enormous

This week, the EU took a welcome, yet long-overdue step toward tackling one of the most overlooked sources of plastic pollution: plastic pellets.

The provisional agreement between the Council and European Parliament will finally introduce binding rules on how pellets; tiny raw materials used to make almost all plastic products, are handled across the supply chain.

It’s real progress.

But the fight to protect our oceans is far from over… and time is running out.

Why this matters

Pellet spills are a hidden environmental crisis.

In 2019 alone, between 52,000 and 184,000 tonnes of pellets were lost into the environment across the EU; polluting rivers, soils, and seas.

Plastic pellets now rank as the third largest source of unintentional microplastic pollution.

And the scale of production dwarfs the scale of loss.

Europe produces around 57 million tonnes of plastic each year.

For every 300 to 1,000 tonnes of plastic produced, 1 tonne of raw pellets is lost directly into nature; before it even becomes a product.

Tiny losses on paper that add up to environmental damage on a colossal scale.

At a global level, it’s estimated that up to 160,000 tonnes of pellets are spilled every year; enough to fill over 14 billion standard 500ml plastic bottles. (Based on an average 500ml PET bottle weighing approximately 11 grams.)

What the new EU rules cover

Risk assessments for companies handling pellets.
Stronger requirements for containment and spill prevention.
Application across the full supply chain, including maritime transport.

It’s the first time the EU has moved to systematically regulate plastic pellet losses, and it sends a powerful signal globally.

What’s missing

The regulation does not cover all microplastics under 5mm. Critical gaps remain, such as biobeads used in sewage treatment systems.

Enforcement mechanisms are weak. Without mandatory penalties or strict spill reporting, compliance could remain patchy.

Delayed action. The rules will only apply two years after publication, and for maritime transport, three years.

The real cost of waiting

At current rates, Europe could lose between:

870 and 3,070 blue whales’ worth of plastic pellets into the environment in the next two years.
Over 4,600 blue whales’ worth before maritime compliance begins.

Meanwhile, every single day, another 1 to 4 blue whales’ weight in plastic pellets is lost… silently, invisibly, irreversibly.

Plastic doesn’t wait for regulations, and neither does the damage.

A step forward - but not enough

EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius previously highlighted the scale of ambition:

“With these new rules, we are aiming to reduce this figure by 74%.
We are only going with the pellets this time because it's the most solid data we have...
The work doesn't stop here. It's a first step. Our aim is to decrease microplastics (pollution) by 30% by 2030.”
Virginijus Sinkevičius, speaking to Reuters

The EU's move to regulate plastic pellet losses reflects that first step — but delayed enforcement and critical gaps mean the tide of pollution continues to rise.

Cleaner Seas Project responded:

“This agreement is a vital step, but it’s only the beginning.
The ocean has the power to heal, if we match that resilience with urgent, decisive action. It starts here.”
Avril Greenaway, Cleaner Seas Project

The scale of the global microplastic problem

A global problem - and no global solution yet

Outside the EU, the situation is even more concerning.

While some countries are experimenting with voluntary guidelines, no coordinated international rules exist to prevent plastic pellet losses.

There are no binding global treaties.
No universal monitoring.
No accountability for the millions of tonnes lost each year worldwide.

Without urgent, coordinated action, the invisible flood of microplastics will continue to poison ecosystems, economies, and human health worldwide.

The upcoming UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations offer a chance to change that.

But only if governments have the courage to act.

Plastic Pellet Pollution: Progress, Delays, and the microplastic Tide Still Rising