Single use plastics

Single-use plastics are plastic products made with the intention of being used only once.

Although versatile and practical for various everyday situations, these types of plastics are a problem for the environment because they are produced in large quantities, usually used only once and disposed of immediately, often incorrectly. When exposed to environmental factors, plastics degrade and give rise to microplastics.

Why are these problems?

How is the problem being dealt with by the European Union?

In 2019, Directive (EU) 2019/904 was published, which addresses the challenges and actions to be taken in the face of the environmental problem caused by single-use plastics.

Several measures are being adopted to reduce this impact and focus on five actions:

restricting putting on the market
reduce consumption
improve eco-design
increase recycling
apply the principle of extended producer responsibility

Which products are covered by the Directive and what measures apply to each?

Cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers, cotton buds, balloon sticks, cups, lids and beverage and food containers made of expanded polystyrene, and products made of oxodegradable plastic.

Restriction on placing on the market from 2021.

Wet wipes, sanitary towels, cups, tampons and tobacco products and filters.

Mandatory marking making it clear that their composition includes plastic, the environmental risks and how they should be properly disposed of from 2021 onwards.

Tobacco products and filters containing plastic, wipes, balloons and fishing gear.

Waste from these products will be covered by extended producer responsibility systems from 2024.

Bottles over three liters.

Already covered by extended producer responsibility in the context of packaging management, they will have caps that integrate the packaging from 2024, there must be a 77% separation rate in 2025, which rises to 90% in 2029.

All plastic bottles.

Already covered by extended producer responsibility in the context of packaging management, must be made up of 25% recycled plastic from 2025, and 30% from 2030.

What impact is expected from these measures?

3.4

million tons

CO2 PER YEAR WILL BE AVOIDED

6.5

billion euros

IS WHAT CONSUMERS WILL SAVE BY CHOOSING ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE-USE PRODUCTS

2.2

billion euros

OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE WILL BE AVOIDED

Source of the data: Turning the tide on single-use plastics (Publications Office of the European Union).