In 2019, the European Parliament approved a new law banning single-use plastic items by the end of 2021. The EU Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Directive aims to reduce the impacts of single-use plastics on the environment and foster a transition to sustainable alternatives. EU Member States have now two years to give force to the SUP Directive by passing appropriate implementation measures. The decisions they will take and their level of ambition will be crucial to effectively fight plastic pollution at sea and at its roots.

The Directive calls for a legal framework in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production) and Sustainable Development Goal 14 (life below water).

The SUP Directive bans certain single-use plastic items, where alternatives are available, and puts in place:

• More responsibility for plastic producers
• New separate collection targets for EU Member States
• Product marking and ecodesign requirements

Loopholes

Experts are raising concerns and flagging potential loopholes in the EU SUP Directive. A new study, ‘What is Plastic? A Summary Report Exploring the Potential for Certain Materials to be Exempted from the Single-Use Plastics Directive’, warns that its impact could be diminished by potential loopholes. 

The study, launched by Eunomia at an event in Brussels in January, highlights that consistent interpretation of the EU SUP Directive and its definition of plastics will be critical as otherwise, products banned in some states may be freely available in others.

Manufacturers of products such as straws, stirrers and wet wipes could simply switch to ‘natural polymers’ which could be exempted under the Directive’s definition of plastics. There are concerns that the Directive's definition of Plastics would allow harmful exceptions for some single-use plastics which would lead to the Directive underperforming on its environmental aims.

Eunomia's report makes a series of recommendations for actions that can be taken to close these loopholes.

Do Your Part

Plastic pollution is suffocating the ocean and threatening marine life. It's time to tackle the plastic crisis with ambitious legislation and action! Banning #SingleUsePlastics is only the first step to fighting the plastic crisis. Be part of the solution! Reduce, reuse, recycle and say 'NO' to single-use plastics. If you're an EU Citizen, ask your government to follow the EU plastic law and develop a proper Circular Economy for plastics. Stay tuned for more calls to action! The ocean needs you to be part of the solution!

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