EU negotiators achieved an agreement on Monday (March 4) to ban the use of single-use plastics in cafés and restaurants beginning in 2030. This decision was made as part of new legislation aimed at decreasing packaging waste within the EU.
Single-use plastic ban
The European Union’s 27 governments and parliamentarians have agreed on a draft text that sets a goal of reducing packaging waste by 5% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. This reduction will be increased to 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040.
The prohibition on single-use plastics will also apply to unprocessed fresh fruits and vegetables, individual servings of sauces and sugar, small toiletries, and shrink-wraps used for baggage in airports. Additionally, ultra-lightweight plastics will be prohibited, with limited limitations.
The agreement also requires enterprises that serve beverages and takeaway meals to attempt to deliver 10% of their products in reusable packaging by 2030.
According to the European Parliament, consumers should also be able to use their own containers.
In addition, lawmakers included a provision to prohibit “forever chemicals” in food packaging that come into touch with food in order to prevent severe health impacts, such as cancer.
The agreement, according to AFP, is a fundamental component of the EU’s environmental objectives outlined in the Green Deal, a series of regulations designed to help the bloc achieve its climate targets.
The deal will become law after it has been formally approved by member states and parliament.
Belgium praises the decision to ban single-use plastics in cafes and restaurants
Belgium, which now holds the rotating EU presidency, announced on X: “This regulation aims to reduce waste caused by packaging, making it more sustainable, while ensuring the highest waste management standards.”
Frederique Ries, the Belgian EU MP who pushed for the legislation, praised the restriction, saying: “The ban on forever chemicals in food packaging is a great victory for the health of European consumers.”
“For the first time in an environmental law, the EU is setting targets to reduce packaging consumption, regardless of the material used.”
“We call on all industrial sectors, EU countries, and consumers to play their part in the fight against excess packaging,” she said.