22 February 2024
On 22 February 2024, lawyers from ClientEarth, in collaboration with 14 other environmental organisations, including Plastic Soup Foundation, took new steps to block INEOS’ plastic project in Antwerp, as the chemical giant is determined to build Europe’s largest plastic project.
This joint effort results in a lawsuit against the Flemish government, marking a new phase in this group of environmental organisations’ long-running battle against INEOS’ so-called ‘Project One’.
Read Client Earth’s press release here.
This legal move stems from an earlier court ruling in July, which overturned the €3 billion plastic project. The environmental organisations believe that INEOS has again failed to provide detailed information on the project’s real impact on people, nature, and climate, not only locally but also globally, including “Scope 3” emissions.
Plastic Soup Foundation has been highlighting the polluting effects of the plastic industry and plastic semi-finished products (nurdles) for years. ‘Nurdles’ are (raw material) pellets of plastic that leak into everywhere around a plastic factory during its production and transportation after which the pellets are dispersed gigantic distances into the environment. Our report [in Dutch] on the scandal of this form of pollution in the Scheldt River was published [in Dutch] in 2022.
Want to know more about our Nurdles dossier? Read all about it here [in Dutch]!
According to Tatiana Luján, a lawyer at Client Earth: “Plastic is an environmental issue, a people issue and a climate issue. Allowing what would become the largest plastic factory in Europe would not only be a local disaster, but also a global scandal.”
“Project One would further boost plastic production at a time when we are already near saturation point. Plastic, made from fossil fuels, has disastrous climate impacts at every stage of the cycle. The far-reaching consequences of this project are real and cannot be ignored.”
“The changes in the new permit for the project are only cosmetic in nature. It remains factually destructive and completely unnecessary. Once again, the authorities have failed to acknowledge the clear, harmful impacts of the project. Therefore, there is nothing left for us but to go to court again.”
According to Stijn van Uffelen, representative of the environmental group MOB: “If Project One is built, it will become one of the three largest peak-loading areas on the Brabantse Wal in terms of nitrogen. This protected area is home to ancient oaks that are already suffering from excess nitrogen deposition. Project One will only exacerbate the problem. Tightening the permit cannot solve this problem either.”
The groups also stress that the local pollution caused by Project One continues to be severely underestimated. Nitrogen levels in Flanders are already far above the recommended safe levels for the environment and public health. If Project One goes ahead, it will only worsen the situation and increase the pressure on the agricultural sector.
According to Mathieu Soete, energy transition campaign leader at Greenpeace Belgium: “INEOS’ new, legally flawed permit for Project One is the perfect example of how the Flemish government stubbornly defends destructive projects. By turning a blind eye to harmful emissions from these industries time after time, the government is not only putting pressure on nature and the climate, but also on our farmers. Eliminating unwanted projects like this is a necessary step in resolving certain tensions that we see escalating in recent weeks.”
Upon receipt of the legal documents by the Council for Permit Disputes, the Flemish authorities will be able to submit their defence to the environmental organisations’ case.
Maria Westerbos, Plastic Soup Foundation director: “It’s actually crazy, isn’t it, that the Flemish authorities are flouting all the rules and issuing a permit that indirectly threatens the health of people living near INEOS. Europe should intervene.”
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