The European Union’s (EU) ban on certain single-use plastic products, including glasses and food containers, entered into force on Saturday, the European Commission announced on its Twitter account.
The EU's Single-Use Plastic Directive, adopted back in 2019, obliged all EU states, starting July 3, 2021, to remove disposable products such as plates, forks, knives, glasses, cotton buds and straws made of plastic from the bloc’s market and no longer produce them.
Food and beverage boxes made of polystyrene are also included in this ban. The new law is aimed to reduce the use of single-use plastic products for which an affordable plastic-free alternative is available.
Other plastic products, such as single use plastic bags, bottles, beverage and food containers for immediate consumption, sanitary items and wet wipes, should be limited in use in the EU.
According to the EU statement, 80% of litter in the world's seas consist of plastic products. The EU aims to make plastic products reusable and recyclable.