Confused about the single use plastics rules in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and now England? Wondering how it affects Vegware? Here’s our useful guide (which we update whenever policy news comes out)…
The UK is not required to bring the EU Single Use Plastics Directive into UK law, but the UK is choosing a similar path to our European neighbours. But the four nations are taking different approaches… Here’s Vegware’s overview table, and you can scroll down for details and links.
Policy | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
Ban single-use plastic cutlery, plates, straws & stirrers (including CPLA cutlery & PLA straws) | Yes, from October 2023 | Yes, from autumn 2023 | Yes, since 12 Aug 2022 | Yes since 2022 |
Ban expanded polystyrene food containers & cups | Yes, from October 2023 (inc foamed extruded PS) | Yes, from autumn 2023 | Yes, since 1 June 2022 (inc lids) | Yes since 2022 |
Ban all oxo-degradable plastics | No | Yes, from 2024 | No | Yes since 2022 |
Turtle graphic on beverage cups containing plastic | No | No | No | Yes since 2022 |
Ban *all* polystyrene lids for cups or takeaway food containers | No | Yes, from autumn 2023 | No | No |
DISCLAIMER! This blog post is Ascot Wholesale's own understanding of the varying single use plastics rules, which we’re sharing here to help our sector navigate some confusing changes. But it’s not legal advice – do please make your own enquiries, read the original policy documents, and seek your own legal advice on important matters. Thanks!
ENGLAND is the last UK nation to announce its policies to limit some of the most-littered plastic items.
WALES is bringing in policy in line with much of the EU Directive, likely to take effect in autumn 2023 with further bans coming in in phase 2, starting from 2024.
SCOTLAND is implementing most of the same bans as the EU Single Use Plastics Directive, from 12th Aug 2022. But read on for some important details…
NORTHERN IRELAND must bring parts of the Directive into its own laws by 1st January 2022, as part of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
You can find links to UK and devolved policies in this House of Commons briefing.
2022 saw the launch of our brand-new paper cutlery range. Before the launch in October, the range won the Packaging Award at the Free From Expo in Barcelona and was runner-up at the Sustainable Food Awards in Amsterdam!
Our cutting-edge alternative to wooden and CPLA cutlery has many benefits:
The EU Single Use Plastics Directive is making big changes to Europe’s foodservice packaging habits. Its big aim is to reduce marine litter. It includes banning expanded polystyrene, oxo-degradable plastics and banning some plastic items. EU member states are taking a variety of approaches to put the Directive into their national laws.
Ignore the myth that PLA is being banned – it isn’t. Some member states won’t allow CPLA cutlery or PLA straws from July 2021 – but we have excellent paper cutlery and paper straws. The rest of our range is fully EU-compliant, ready to help you beat the bans on expanded polystyrene and oxo-degradable plastics.
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