Overview
Single-use plastic (SUP) products are used once, or for a short period of time, before being thrown away. The impacts of this plastic waste on the environment and our health are global and can be drastic.
SUP items are more likely to end up in our seas than reusable options.
The 10 most commonly found SUP products on European beaches, alongside fishing gear, represent 70% of all marine litter in the EU.
The EU aims to become a forerunner in the global fight against marine litter and plastic pollution, with rules to reduce thevolume andimpact of certain plastic products on the environment.
Objectives
The Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive aims to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in particular the marine environment and human health.
They also aim to promote the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials, therefore also contributing to the efficient functioning of the internal market.
Law
Through the SUP Directive, different measures are applied to different products. These measures are proportionate and tailored to get the most effective results, and also take into account the availability of more sustainable alternatives.
The 10 items addressed by the Directive are:
- Cotton bud sticks
- Cutlery, plates, straws and stirrers
- Balloons and sticks for balloons
- Food containers
- Cups for beverages
- Beverage containers
- Cigarette butts
- Plastic bags
- Packets and wrappers
- Wet wipes and sanitary items
Where sustainable alternatives are easily available and affordable, SUP products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States. This applies to cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, and to all products made of oxo-degradable plastic.
For other SUP items, the EU is focusing on limiting their use by:
- Reducing consumption through awareness-raising measures
- Introducing design requirements, such as connecting caps to bottles
- Introducing labelling requirements to inform consumers about the plastic content of products, disposal options that are to be avoided, and harm done to nature if the products are littered in the environment
- Introducing waste management and clean-up obligations for producers, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes
Specific targets include:
- A 77% separate collection target for plastic bottles by 2025, increasing to 90% by 2029
- Incorporating 25% of recycled plastic in PET beverage bottles from 2025 and 30% in all plastic beverage bottles from 2030
2025 Public Consultation
On 23 December 2025 the Commission launched a public consultation and call for evidence to evaluate the Single-Use Plastics Directive.
- Directive on Single-Use Plastics
- Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive
- Plastic Bags Directive
- Implementing regulation laying down rules on harmonised marking specifications on single-use plastic products listed in Part D of the Annex to the Directive and corrigenda to this implementing regulation
- Impact assessment part 1 - part 2 - part 3 and summary
- Implementing Decision 2021/1752 laying down rules for the calculation, verification and reporting of data on the separate collection of waste single-use plastic beverage bottles
- Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/958 laying down the format for reporting data and information on fishing gear placed on the market and waste fishing gear collected in Member States and the format for the quality check report
- Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/2267 laying down the format for reporting data and information on the collected post-consumption waste of tobacco products with filters and of filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products
- Implementing Decision 2022/162 laying down rules for the calculation, verification and reporting on the reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic food containers and beverage cups
- Implementing Decision 2023/1060 on a harmonised standard for test methods and requirements to demonstrate that plastic caps and lids remain attached to beverage containers
- Implementing Decision 2023/2683 laying down rules for calculation, verification and reporting of data on recycled plastic content in single-use plastic beverage bottles
- Commission guidelines laying down criteria on the costs of cleaning up litter in accordance with the Directive on Single-use Plastics
- Commission guidelines on single-use plastic products in accordance with the Directive on Single-use Plastics (in all EU languages)
- Implementation plan – accompanying the proposal for a Directive on single-use plastics
- Download the vectorised pictograms for the marking of certain single-use plastic products, which are available in all EU languages.
- 30 November 2023Commission adopts Implementing Decision 2023/2683
Commission Implementing Decision 2023/2683 laying down rules for calculation, verification and reporting of data on recycled plastic content in single-use plastic beverage bottles
- 30 May 2023Commission adopts Implementing Decision 2023/1060
Commission Implementing Decision 2023/1060 on a harmonised standard for test methods and requirements to demonstrate that plastic caps and lids remain attached to beverage containers
- 4 February 2022Commission adopts Implementing Decision 2022/162
Implementing Decision 2022/162 lays down rules for the calculation, verification and reporting on the reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic food containers and beverage cups
- 17 December 2021
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/2267 laying down the format for reporting data and information on the collected post-consumption waste of tobacco products with filters and of filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products
- 1 October 2021Commission adopts Implementing Decision 2021/1752
Implementing Decision 2021/1752 lays down rules for the calculation, verification and reporting of data on the separate collection of waste single-use plastic beverage bottles
- 3 July 2021The EU no longer allows certain single-use plastic items to be placed on the Member States market; and marking requirements enter into force
- 31 May 2021Commission adopts guidelines on single-use plastics products, and implementing decision on reporting on fishing gear
- 2 July 2019Directive on single-use plastics enters into force
- 16 January 2018Publication of the EU plastics strategy - outlining the need for a legislative proposal on single-use plastics
- Brochure on single-use plastics in all EU languages
- Factsheet on single-use plastics
- Supporting study - Assessment of measures to reduce marine litter from single use plastics
- Synopsis report stakeholder consultation
Main law: Directive on Single-Use Plastics
Entry into force: 2 July 2019
Related topics: Circular economy; Plastics; Sustainable development; Waste and recycling
Related strategies: Circular Economy Action Plan; Plastics strategy
Contact
For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.
