Skip to main content
Environment
Banner depicting seahorse, straw, knife, fork, and sphere motifs against dark blue backdrop.
EU restrictions on certain single-use plastics

Information and resources on the new EU rules on single-use plastics

The EU is acting against plastic pollution. From 3 July 2021, single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and cotton buds cannot be placed on the markets of the EU Member States. In addition, the same measure applies to cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, and all products made of oxo-degradable plastic.

Single-use plastic products are made wholly or partly of plastic and are typically intended to be used just once or for a short period of time before they are thrown away. Under the new rules, certain throwaway plastic products for which alternatives exist are banned. Specific measures are also introduced to reduce the use of certain products.

Why is the EU tackling plastic litter?

More than 80% of marine litter is plastics. Plastic accumulates in seas, oceans and on beaches in the EU and worldwide. Plastic residues are found in marine species – such as sea turtles, seals, whales and birds, but also in fish and shellfish, and therefore in the human food chain.

While plastics are a convenient, useful and evaluable material, they need to be better used, re-used and recycled. When littered, the economic impact of plastics includes not just the lost economic value in the material, but also the costs of cleaning up and losses for tourism, fisheries and shipping.

Publications

Leaflet summarising the EU rules which target the vast amount of single-use plastic and fishing gear containing plastic.

Banner depicting seahorse, straw, knife, fork, and sphere motifs against dark blue backdrop.

Turning the tide on single-use plastics

Animations

Watch animations on some of the single-use plastics items covered by the new EU rules

Cotton bud

Cutlery

Straws

Videos

Watch the video to discover the inconvenient truth about single-use plastics 

Social Media banners

Download a single-use plastics banner for use on different Social Media platforms

15 JUNE 2021
Social Media SUP banners
English
(4.07 MB - ZIP)
Download

EU rules

EU action on single-use plastics

Plastic litter floating in water.
© solarseven / Getty Images

The EU is tackling the 10 single-use plastic items most commonly found on Europe’s beaches, and is promoting sustainable alternatives.