News & InsightsNewsletterLegislation Hub

Foresight

Foresight
AboutContactLog in
Book a Demo
Foresight logo
All News & Insights

Fighting Plastic Pollution: EU Tackles Single-Use Plastics

24
January 2024
•
561
Dr Steven Brennan
Explore the EU's initiative on single-use plastics, its commitment to reducing plastic pollution, and promoting sustainable alternatives.
White plastic spoon
Quick prompts

AI Generated

Get to the point quicker with prompts - a smarter way to get the information you need from our articles.

Summarise this article

AI Assistant

This feature and much more is available on our platform. If you would like early access, please leave your email and we'll get in touch.

We'll be in touch when the Assistant is ready.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Mountains

Combating Marine Litter: Europe’s Battle Against Plastic Waste

The European Union (EU) is stepping up its efforts to combat marine litter by targeting the 10 single-use plastic products most frequently found on Europe's coastlines. Recognizing the dire impact these items have on the environment and human health, the EU is advocating the use of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics (SUPs), which are discarded after a single use or a brief period of use.

Amid rising concern for our oceans, the aforementioned items, along with discarded fishing gear, account for a staggering 70% of all marine litter across EU shores. The current legislative push aims not only to curb this trend but to position the EU as a leader in the worldwide initiative against plastic pollution.

Directive on single-use plastics: An Overview

The Directive on single-use plastics, adopted by the EU, tailors different measures to a range of products, ensuring that the most effective approach is taken. This includes a ban on placing single-use plastic products on EU markets when sustainable options are accessible and cost-effective – including cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, and balloon sticks.

For other SUPs, the focus is on reduction. Strategies include awareness campaigns, design changes such as bottle caps attached to bottles, labeling requirements to inform consumers of plastic content and disposal methods, and the introduction of waste management responsibilities for producers through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.

Objectives and Implementation

The objectives of the EU rules on single-use plastic products are twofold: first, to lessen the environmental impact of specific plastic products, particularly on marine environments and human health; second, to encourage a shift to a circular economy through innovative business models, products, and materials.

Enforcement of these rules comes with a structured implementation plan and includes guidelines in all EU languages. Moreover, the legislation sets forth ambitious targets, such as achieving a 77% separate collection rate for plastic bottles by 2025 and incorporating recycled plastic into new bottles.

Timeline & Related Laws

The Directive, in effect since July 2019, has been accompanied by subsequent decisions and guidelines aimed at attaining these goals. Key recent developments include the implementation decisions on reporting to assess the reduction of single-use plastic food containers and measuring the success of separate collections for recycling of plastic beverage bottles.

Relevant directives, like the Packaging Directive and the Plastic Bags Directive, also play a role in this overarching scheme to combat plastic waste.

Read the source story

The European Union (EU) is stepping up its efforts to combat marine litter by targeting the 10 single-use plastic products most frequently found on Europe's coastlines. Recognizing the dire impact these items have on the environment and human health, the EU is advocating the use of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics (SUPs), which are discarded after a single use or a brief period of use.

Read this article now for free!

You have read 3 articles.
Create a free account
or
Log in
to finish reading this article now.

Subscribe to our weekly digest

Sign up to receive our newsletter every Tuesday and get access to all of our content.

By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
This is some text inside of a div block.

Trusted by professionals at

Dupont
ECHA - European Chemicals Agency
Energizer
Chemours
This is some text inside of a div block.

Get Foresight Today

Stay compliant, reduce risk, and protect your business with our AI-powered chemical policy monitoring—tailored just for you.

Global monitoring of 1,200+ sources
Expert-reviewed, trusted regulatory alerts
Instant risk identification for 350k+ substances

Ready to supercharge your policy monitoring workflow?

We’ll be in touch soon with more details and support to help you get started.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Share with a friend
Copy link

Related Articles

Foresight regulatory experts
Streamline your chemical compliance
Easy-to-use product compliance management for small and mid-sized manufacturers — mitigate risk and protect market access.
Get started
Subscribe to Foresight's newsletter
Stay ahead with the latest news & insights
Join 1,000s of compliance professionals getting the latest insights right to their inbox for free, every Tuesday.
100% free. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Stay ahead with the latest news & insights
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter covering news, events, and expert insights.

Related articles

No items found.
Foresight
Providing critical insights, analysis, and guidance to help businesses anticipate changes, make informed decisions, and stay ahead.
News & Insights
Newsletter
Legislation Hub
Coverage
Contact
About
© 2025 Foresight. All rights reserved.
SitemapTerms of servicePrivacy policyCookie policy