Single-Use Plastics Directive, including food service items

A directive whose bans, marking rules and producer responsibility schemes are duties on Member States, applied through national law. Since 3 July 2021 national bans have covered single-use plastic cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, cotton buds and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers and cups. A small caterer files nothing under it but must buy compliant products, and food businesses feel it through food service items, beverage containers and producer responsibility contributions.

Where this directive conflicts with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation on listed single-use plastic packaging, the regulation prevails.