The reduction in the consumption of plastic bags as a key element of a circular economy model: an analysis from the Law

Abstract

Human consumer behaviours, the culture of waste and the linear economic model – rooted since the origin of the First Industrial Revolution in our societies – have become determining factors for the emergence of the climate crisis which threatens the environment. The fateful consequences that are already damaging terrestrial life have given rise to a reactionary environmental awareness both from the economic perspective – from which a circular economic model emanates – and from the social one. Awareness is not yet absolute and that is why legislative intervention is essential not only to combat these behaviours but also to resolve and mitigate the effects that human and industrial action have caused on the environment. This study focuses specifically on the legal analysis of the impact that plastic bags have had on aquatic and terrestrial systems and the measures applied by the European Union organizations and Spanish organizations to resolve past effects and reduce future ones. With this aim, after carrying out a general analysis of the circular economy as the motivating axis for the adoption of measures against plastic, Directive (EU) 2015/720 and its transposition into the Spanish legal system are thoroughly examined by means of the Royal Decree 293/2018.