Policy briefing: the EU’s single-use plastic directive

Member states and representatives of the European Parliament agreed in December on a range of measures to tackle pollution from single-use plastics that are expected to come into force in 2021. ENDS takes a detailed look at what the new measures mean.

What was agreed?

The European Parliament and the Council adopted measures covering the 10 types of single-use plastic items most commonly found on Europe’s beaches. Plastic cutlery, plates and straws, cotton bud sticks, balloon sticks and drinks stirrers will be prohibited, along with food and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene.