About this article
Your practical guide to the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive. Learn what food packaging and cutlery are banned, what’s restricted, and what alternatives are available that comply with the continued roll-out of the Directive.
The Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) in short
Plastic has many useful properties and applications but, like any material used in packaging or tableware, there are dangers associated with plastic waste when it’s not properly disposed of and ends up littered in the environment.
To address the problem of plastic pollution, especially in oceans and waterways, the EU adopted the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUP Directive) in 2019. It targets the most commonly found disposable plastic items on Europe’s beaches by introducing bans, reduction measures and holding producers of these products responsible. All with the aim to reduce environmental impact of SUP’s and encouraging a shift towards reusable alternatives. The SUPD is part of the EU Green Deal.
The Single-Use Plastics Directive affects which food packaging and tableware items you can and cannot use. This article gives an overview of the various aspects on EU level and how this is related to local implementations.
A timeline
- 2018 – In May 2018 the European Commission presented the proposal for the Single-Use Plastics Directive
- 2019 – On 3 July 2019, the SUP Directive enters into force
- 2021 – As of 3 July 2021, certain single-use plastics – including plastic cutlery, straws and plates – are banned across all EU member states (scroll down to find out which food packaging products have been banned and which alternatives we offer)
- 2023 – From 5 January onwards, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes must be established for certain single-use plastic products – including food containers and cups containing plastics
- 2024 – As of 3 July, caps and lids need to remain attached to beverage containers – such as to drinking bottles of up to 3 litres
- 2024 – At least 77% of single-use plastic beverage bottles (up to three litres) must be separately collected for recycling
- 2025 – Beverage bottles made of PET must contain at least 25% recycled plastic
- 2026 – A measurable quantitave reduction in consumption of SUP’s should be achieved
- 2029 – At least 90% of single-use plastic beverage bottles (up to three litres) must be separately collected for recycling
- 2030 – All plastic beverage bottles up to 3 litres must contain at least 30% recycled plastic (note that the PPWR also sets minimum percentages of recycled content in packaging)
Banned food packaging and tableware and suitable alternatives
As of 3 July 2021, the Single-Use Plastics Directive became effective in all EU member states. From that day, the single-use food and drink packaging products listed below were banned:
- Plastic straws: The ban includes straws made from all plastics, including bioplastics like PLA. Some specific excemptions apply, for example for hospitals where there is direct contact with patients.
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- Replace with: Paper or reusable straws
- Plastic plates: All plastic plates are affected by the ban, including paper or cardboard plates with linings made of plastics like PE and PLA.
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- Replace with: unlined paper or cardboard plates, bagasse, palm leaf, or reusable options – all available through Verive.
- Plastic cutlery: The ban affects all single-use cutlery made of plastic, including bioplastics like PLA.
- Plastic beverage stirrers: The ban applies to all single-use stirrers made of plastic, including bioplastics like PLA.
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- Replace with: wood, paper, bamboo, and reusable alternatives, such as metal spoons.
- Expanded polystyrene food and drink containers: EPS (expanded polystyrene) and XPS (extruded polystyrene) cannot be used for food and beverage packaging anymore.
- Oxo-degradable products: When products made from oxo-degradable plastics break down, they can result in microplastics. Prior to the ban, you could find these oxo-plastics for example in bags, plates and cutlery.
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- Replace with: similar products made from recycled renewable materials (e.g., paper, wood, bamboo, bagasse, palm leaf etc.), bioplastics or reusable alternatives.
SUPD and the turtle logo
Alongside the plastic product bans, new labelling requirements came into force as of 3 July 2021. As all Member States allowed for a transition period of one year, these requirements became visible for consumers from mid 2022 onwards.
From then on, all disposable cups sold in the EU, even those with an aqueous lining, must carry the ‘Plastic in Product’ or ‘Made of Plastic’ turtle logo to inform users that they contain plastics. The turtle logo requirements also apply to products like menstrual products, wet wipes and tobacco products with filters.
Other items affected by the Single-Use Plastics Directive
Above we’ve tried to highlight the items most likely to affect your foodservice business, but it’s important to remember that the Directive’s restrictions, bans, and labelling specifications extend beyond those items and affect other products and industries.
These include:
- Plastic-stemmed cotton buds: Banned in the EU since July 2021.
- Plastic balloon sticks: Banned in the EU since July 2021.
- Menstrual products: Labelled with a ‘Plastic in Product’ turtle logo since July 2022.
- Wet wipes: Labelled with a ‘Plastic in Product’ turtle logo since July 2022.
- Tobacco products: Labelled with a ‘Plastic in Product’ turtle logo since July 2022.
Different implementations of the Single-Use Plastics Directive
Because the Single-Use Plastics Directive is a ‘directive’ and not a ‘regulation’, it includes a basic set of rules Member States should comply with. However, Member States are free to implement even stricter rules locally.
A clear example of this is that the Single-Use Plastics Directive stimulates replacing single-use products containing plastic with reusable alternatives where possible. Especially for on-site consumption, when food or drinks are consumed right where they are bought, this is explicitly advised. But it’s not mandatory.
Member States like France, the Netherlands and Germany have however implemented additional rules that in specific cases force businesses to switch to reusable alternatives.
What’s next when it comes to the EU’s plastics ban
At a local level, each EU member state must take action to reduce the use of single-use cups and takeaway containers. Individual member states should perhaps consider deposit-return schemes, charging for single-use plastic items, market restrictions, like banning the on-site use of disposables, and adopting and promoting reusable alternatives.
The EU defines reusable packaging as a product that is purposely designed, manufactured, and put on the market in such a way that arrangements are in play to make reuse operational (EN 13449:2004).
As of 2026, all EU member states must be able to show a measurable reduction in the use of single-use plastics compared to 2022. There’s no percentage set by the EU, nor are there specific measures set on how to achieve a reduction: Member States are free to set their own route and targets.
The SUP Directive is thus not a complete ban on all single-use plastics, but a way to break the trend of single-use and achieve a reduction.
What’s next for my business?
Would you like some support to assess your current food packaging use and make it complaint with legislation? We are here to help you choose future-proof food packaging that suit your business. Contact us today for advice or more information.
Francisco Morcillo
"We turn sustainability strategy into practical steps, so you can make confident, responsible choices for your packaging."
