Simple and reusable solutions for disposable plastic cups, plates, cutlery and take-out boxes are booming across Europe, but government support is now needed for them to become widespread and reusable plastics to develop, according to a report published by Break Free From Plastic Europe and Rethink Plastic Alliance on Tuesday 15 October.
The European Single-Use Plastics Directive to reduce ocean pollution requires Member States to ban, as of 1 January 2021, the ten most common disposable plastic products found on beaches (see EUROPE 12259/24).
The report entitled ‘Reusable solutions: How governments can help stop single-use plastic pollution’ shows how a combination of public and private initiatives is reducing the consumption of single-use plastic packaging and products in Europe.
1.5 tonnes of food packaging waste is saved each year in Brussels thanks to the reusable ‘Tiffin’ tin system, which also saves €20,000 on the purchase of disposable containers, the report points out. It also notes that in Germany, 99% of reusable glass bottles are returned and filled up to 50 times.
It calls on EU Member States to broaden the scope of these successes by building on EU legislation. Governments should therefore: – pass legislation requiring restaurants to use reusable cutlery, plates and cups for on-site consumption; – set targets for reducing the consumption of single-use plastic cups and food containers by 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2030; – implement deposit policies for reusable items, including beverage bottles, cups and food containers; – tax single-use plastics to force companies to find alternatives quickly.
To view the report: http://bit.ly/2qhUTlP (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)