EU to ban single-use plastic packaging in coffee shops from 2030 March 5, 2024
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- Mar 4, 2024
- 2 min read
By AFP - Agence France Presse
EUROPEAN UNION
POLLUTION
EU member states and lawmakers reached a consensus on a draft law on Monday, March 4, which sets a target of reducing packaging waste within the union by 5% by 2030, compared to the levels recorded in 2018.
European Union negotiators reached an agreement on Monday, March 4, to implement a ban on single-use plastics in cafés and restaurants from 2030, as part of new regulations aimed at reducing packaging waste across the bloc. The aim is to achieve further reductions of 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040.
The text is a key element of the EU's environmental targets under the Green Deal, a set of laws to help the bloc achieve its climate goals. "This regulation aims to reduce the waste caused by packaging, making it more sustainable and ensuring the highest standards of waste management," said the government of Belgium, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, in X.
Plastics in catering were at the center of bitter negotiations after intense lobbying by fast-food and paper giants, who claimed that cardboard packaging, which is recyclable or comes from sustainable forests, was more environmentally friendly than plastics.
The ban on single-use plastic packaging from 2030 will also apply to fresh, unprocessed fruit and vegetables, individual portions of products such as condiments and sugar, as well as miniature toiletries and shrink-wrapped airport luggage. Ultra-light plastic bags will also be banned, with a few exceptions.
"For the first time in an environmental law, the EU is setting targets to reduce packaging consumption, regardless of the material used," said Frederique Ries, the Belgian EU lawmaker who pushed the text through parliament. "We call on all industrial sectors, EU countries, and consumers to do their part in the fight against excessive packaging," she said.
Establishments offering drinks and takeaway food should also "strive" to offer 10% of their products in reusable packaging by 2030, and should also give consumers the option of using their containers, the EU parliament said.
Lawmakers also added a ban on so-called "eternal chemicals" in packaging that has contact with food, in a bid to prevent adverse health effects, including different types of cancer. "The ban on everlasting chemicals in food packaging is a major victory for the health of European consumers," said Ries. The agreement will become law after formal approval by member states and parliament.
Great to see these strong moves by the European Union to ban single‑use plastics in cafés and restaurants by 2030. It sets a clear direction for packaging innovation and sustainability. Brands offering products like custom weed bags should take note and start planning alternatives now.