EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD)
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
In force since July 2019 (phased market bans, labeling requirements, and tethered-cap requirements from July 2021)
Overview
The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD, Directive (EU) 2019/904) regulates the ten single-use plastic (SUP) items most commonly found on European beaches, along with oxo-degradable plastics, with the aim of reducing marine plastic litter and advancing the transition to a circular economy.
It bans the placing on the market of products for which alternatives exist (such as plastic straws, cutlery, plates, cotton buds, and expanded polystyrene food containers), requires tethered-cap designs for beverage containers (from July 2024), mandates minimum recycled PET (rPET) content in PET bottles (25% from 2025, 30% from 2030), places the cost of litter clean-up on producers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and requires plastic-content labeling on products such as sanitary items and tobacco filters.
Enforcement Timeline
July 2, 2019: The SUPD (Directive (EU) 2019/904) formally enters into force.
July 3, 2021: Marketing bans on plastic straws, cutlery, cotton buds, expanded polystyrene containers, and similar products take effect, along with mandatory harmonized environmental labeling for certain products.
July 3, 2024: Tethered-cap design becomes fully mandatory for plastic beverage and liquid-food containers of three liters or less.
January 1, 2025: The requirement for a minimum of 25% recycled plastic (rPET) content in PET beverage bottles takes effect.
January 1, 2030: The requirement for a minimum of 30% recycled plastic content in all plastic beverage bottles takes effect.
Business Impact
Companies that sell or export soft drinks and liquid foods in Europe must invest in and redesign equipment to use tethered-cap nozzle structures that keep caps attached to containers (non-compliant products cannot clear customs).
For resin and material suppliers, the ability to supply food-grade, high-quality recycled PET (rPET) with verified origin has become an essential requirement for doing business with European bottle manufacturers.