The “2024 EU Single-Use Plastics Ban Compliance Guide”

1. Overview of the 2024 EU Single-Use Plastics Ban

• Scope: The ban targets the most commonly littered single-use plastic (SUP) items, including:
  • Cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers
  • Cotton bud sticks
  • Expanded polystyrene (EPS) food containers & cups
  • Oxo-degradable plastics (which fragment into microplastics)
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Companies must cover waste management and cleanup costs for SUP products.

2. Key Compliance Requirements (2024 Updates)

• Product Restrictions: Full market bans on newly listed items (e.g., very lightweight plastic bags, EPS packaging for takeaways).
• Design Standards: Mandatory recycled content in PET bottles (25% by 2025, 30% by 2030).
• Labeling Rules: Products must display harmonized EU labels warning of environmental impact (e.g., wet wipes, tobacco filters).

3. Business Obligations

• Documentation: Proof of compliance with material restrictions (e.g., alternatives like bamboo, PLA bioplastics).
• Reporting: Annual data submission on SUP products placed on the market.
• EPR Registration: Mandatory for producers in all EU member states.

4. Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Fines vary by member state (e.g., up to €100,000 in Germany for repeated violations).
• Potential product recalls or market bans.

5. Case Studies & Best Practices

• Examples of compliant alternatives (e.g., reusable packaging systems, paper-based substitutes).
• Success stories from companies like Unilever and Coca-Cola EU transitioning to circular models.

6. Resources & Tools

• Links to the European Commission’s SUP Guidelines.
• Checklists for SMEs to assess compliance.

Access the Full Whitepaper

For the complete document (typically in PDF format), you may search:

• European Commission’s Environment Directorate (ec.europa.eu/environment)
• Industry publications like Plastics Europe or EUROPEN.