Why was the ban on certain single-use plastic products introduced?
In 2019, a new EU directive was launched with the primary focus of reducing litter in oceans, lakes, and other marine areas. This action responded to the increasing global issue of marine litter, which is also covered by the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development).
Approximately 80-85% of all marine litter consists of plastic items, with 50% represented by single-use plastic items and 27% by fishing-related items. The ban on certain plastic items is a crucial step toward establishing a circular economy and achieving the goal of reducing the use of plastic products by 50% by 2026 compared to 2022.
Which single-use plastic products were banned on January 1, 2022?
In the ban that came into effect in January 2022, the following single-use plastic products were prohibited:
- Balloon sticks
- Cutlery Cotton buds
- Food containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene (EPS)
- Beverage stirrers
- Straws Plates
- Chopsticks
In addition to the bans, the EU also decided to introduce labeling requirements for single-use products made entirely or partially of plastic. Within Tingstad's range, mainly cups and wet wipes are affected by these requirements.
What's coming?
The ban on the mentioned products is part of a comprehensive plan where several directives will be introduced in the coming years.
Here are some examples:
- Restaurants and cafes must offer reusable food containers and cups (Effective from 2024-01-01)
- Ban on single-use cups with over 15% plastic (Effective from 2024-01-05)
You can read more about the EU directive here.