The European Commission recently adopted a series of initiatives aimed at reducing pollution from synthetic polymer particles (microplastics). It’s worth noting that road marking paints that emit microplastics are recognized as a source of emissions under this initiative, but are not subject to regulation.
The European Road Federation (ERF) closely follows discussions, conference reports, scientific articles, and policy debates regarding microplastics and road surfaces. Current initiatives identify surfaces as a source of microplastic emissions. However, there is a significant difference between so-called “intentional” and “unintentional” microplastic emissions.
Luca Lottero, Policy and Project Specialist at ERF, explained that road marking paints are currently classified as unintentional emissions. Microplastics released into the environment by road markings are the result of wear and tear from road traffic and should be considered unintentional emissions. The goal of this regulation is to reduce the intentional addition of microplastics to certain products. Road marking paints will be exempt from this regulation in the near future, although, as noted, they will still emit a certain amount of microplastics.
”We believe road markings contribute very little to microplastic emissions,” said Lotero. “They are essential safety features, while other ‘paints’ serve a decorative function, and future regulations should take this into account.”
For intentional sources of microplastics, the goal is to minimize their quantities in products. “For unintentional sources of microplastics, the goal is to develop standardization, certification, and regulation measures, as well as harmonized emission measurement methods,” he said.
”Therefore, we expect not a ‘ban’, but rather additional certification from the competent authorities. Regarding coatings specifically, the section on particle loss states that further research is needed to find optimal measures.”
Road markings play a vital role in creating a safe, efficient, and inclusive motorway system, facilitating the efficient movement of people and goods, reducing collisions, and reducing the impact on vulnerable road users and communities. Mr. Lottero noted that road markings contribute to achieving the ambitious goal of zero road traffic fatalities in Europe by 2050, as set out in the European Commission’s Vision Zero strategy, published in November 2022.
”Therefore, the societal benefits of high-quality road markings must be taken into account, and the European Commission should not regard them as a decorative coating when developing regulations,” he said.
As noted in the ERF’s December 2022 policy paper “Road Markings and Microplastics,” the extensive scientific literature on this topic is riddled with misconceptions and false assumptions due to a lack of engagement with industry experts and a paucity of data from practical experience.
The road marking industry is committed to creating sustainable systems that also ensure the highest levels of safety for all road users. The European Road Research Foundation (ERF) states that it remains committed to the discussion and will incorporate the views of its members and other relevant and reputable industry stakeholders in any research. As Tomasz Burghardt, a researcher of road marking systems at SWARCO, points out, microplastic emissions from wear are extremely low. “A recent EU report (https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2779/917472) estimated the contribution of road markings to microplastic pollution at 0.7–1.3%, despite one lobby group suggesting wear rates of 30–74%,” he says. “If the results of each field study are calculated, and the wear rate is consistently below 5%, then the contribution of road markings to microplastic pollution would be less than 0.07%.”
Essentially, the new regulations restrict the production and sale of insoluble and non-degradable organic synthetic polymers, both used alone and intentionally added to products that release microplastics during use. The definition of microplastic used to set the restrictions is very broad, encompassing microbeads (particles smaller than 5 mm) and fibrous particles (particles smaller than 15 mm in length with an aspect ratio greater than 3).
The main measure adopted by Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 is to ban the sale of these microplastics themselves or products containing them – in mixtures at a concentration equal to or greater than 0.01% by weight.
Among the common products subject to the ban is granular infill used on synthetic sports fields, which is the largest source of microplastics intentionally introduced into the environment. The ban will take effect in eight years to give field owners and operators time to transition to alternatives and allow most existing fields to degrade naturally.
Cosmetics containing microplastics (microbeads) for exfoliation or to impart a specific texture, fragrance, or color to the skin. The ban will take effect immediately for cosmetics containing microspheres, while other cosmetics will be subject to a transition period of 4 to 12 years, depending on the product’s complexity, the need for formula modification, and the availability of suitable alternatives.
Other affected products include detergents, fabric softeners, glitter, plant protection products, toys, etc. Regarding the bans on these products, in some cases (such as glitter), the bans will take effect immediately, while in other cases there will be a transition period of several years.
The sales ban does not apply to products that do not emit microplastics or minimize their emissions during use, such as building materials. Products used in industrial facilities, in vitro diagnostic devices, and certain food supplements are also exempt from the ban, but manufacturers are required to provide instructions for use and disposal of the products to prevent the release of microplastics.
Similarly, products that are already subject to specific regulation at EU level, such as medicinal products (for human and veterinary use), food and feed, and food additives, are not covered by the Regulation.
The European Commission hopes that these measures will reduce microplastic emissions by 70%, equivalent to preventing around 500,000 tonnes of such products from entering the environment over the next 20 years.
Post time: Sep-19-2025