Single Use Plastics Directive
The Single Use Plastics directive has been in force since July 3, 2021. The directive should encourage companies to develop sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic products and single-use plastic packaging. Measures from the SUP directive include single-use plastic products, among them various packaging.
The following single-use plastic products have been banned from sale since 3 July 2021: cutlery, plates, stirrers, straws (except as medical devices) and food and drink containers made of expanded polystyrene (EPS/XPS) from which food or beverages are consumed directly. Cotton buds (except as medical devices), balloon sticks and products made of oxo-degradable plastics are also covered.
No distinction is made between types of plastic; the guideline is there for both oil-based plastics (such as HDPE or PS) and bio-based plastics (such as bio-PE or PLA).
KIDV decision trees Single Use Plastics
The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has created six decision trees that can be used to assess whether different types of packaging are covered by the Single-Use Plastics Directive and, if so, which measures apply to the packaging in question.
Guideline EC and Dutch assessment framework
In May 2021, the European Commission published a guideline explaining definitions and the description of products and packaging. This gives an indication of whether or not a product is covered by the SUP directive. The directive covers food packaging and cups up to 3 litres, plastic-coated paper cups and packaging, PHA products, multipacks and portion packs. Regenerated cellulose products, such as viscose, are not covered by SUP legislation as they are made of natural polymers that have not been chemically modified.
Even after the guideline was published, it was not always clear to which products and packaging the Single Use Plastics Directive did or did not apply. To provide conclusive answers, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management published an assessment framework (only available in Dutch)with decision trees to clarify 'the grey areas'.