- The agreement bans single-use plastic products such as cotton buds, cutlery, plates and straws, which have alternatives.
- It sets a target of 90% separate collection of plastic bottles by 2029.
- Formal approval by Parliament and the Council is still needed, followed by incorporation into each country’s law.
On 19 December 2018 the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union reached a provisional agreement on the directive proposed by the Commission in May to reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in particular single-use ones. Parliament had approved its position on 24 October. To become law, the text must be formally approved by both institutions.
The directive aims to tackle the litter that reaches seas and beaches, where plastic accounts for most of the waste. It affects manufacturers, distributors, catering, retail and administrations, and may change citizens’ consumption habits, from fast-food packaging to hygiene items.
What is banned
The agreement bans single-use plastic products for which more sustainable and affordable alternatives exist: cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers and balloon sticks. Oxo-degradable plastics and food containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene are also banned.
The logic is to target the products that appear most on European beaches and that have substitutes available: according to the Commission, the ten most frequent single-use plastic items on beaches, together with fishing gear, account for around 70% of marine litter. For other products without immediate alternatives, measures are planned on reducing consumption, design and labelling requirements, and extended producer responsibility, which obliges producers to cover part of the cost of collection and clean-up.
Bottles and collection targets
For plastic bottles, the agreement sets a separate collection target of 90% in 2029. The aim is to increase recycling and reduce the waste that ends up in nature. To reach it, member states may use systems such as deposit and return schemes for containers.
Design also plays a role: the directive aims for caps to stay attached to bottles during use, so that they are not lost, and provides that certain containers include a percentage of recycled plastic. These are requirements that will affect the design and costs of packers and drinks manufacturers, and will force production lines, suppliers and materials to be adapted. For tourism and catering, the most visible measure will be the change in the disposable items handed to customers.
What to review
Although the rule is not yet final, companies can begin to map which single-use plastic products they buy, sell or use, in catering, retail, hotels or events. It is worth talking to suppliers about alternatives, weighing cost and availability, and reviewing supply contracts, which might need clauses for adapting to regulatory changes.
Packaging manufacturers and distributors should follow transposition closely, because extended producer responsibility may bring new costs and reporting obligations. SMEs can use the time available to plan the transition with advice, without waiting for deadlines. In Catalonia, where tourism and catering weigh heavily in the economy, adapting suppliers and products may be especially relevant.
The change in rules arrives gradually, and those who prepare in time avoid hasty and costly decisions.
This article is general information. It is not legal, tax or investment advice, and it does not take anyone’s particular circumstances into account.
