With many single-use plastic items to be banned in the EU from 3 July 2021, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC ) and its member organisations are urging the EU to ensure that alternatives to single-use plastics are safe and not misleading for consumers.
A new test carried out by BEUC and its members in four countries (Italy, Denmark, Spain, France), the results of which were published on 27 May, reveals the presence of chemicals of concern, such as PFAS and chloropropanols, in popular alternatives such as disposable bowls made of plant fibres, paper straws or palm leaf plates—substances that are not regulated in the EU.
In total, more than half of the products sampled contained one or more undesirable chemicals above the recommended levels (53%), some of which are suspected of causing cancer. And 21% of the products contained these chemical substances at levels close to the recommended limits.
In addition, the test showed that several products misled consumers with unsubstantiated environmental claims.
“Green labels such as ‘natural’, ‘biodegradable’, or ‘compostable’ have no place on single-use dinnerware that contains persistent chemicals”, says Monique Goyens, director of BEUC.
See the test results: https://bit.ly/3wEi9r4 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)