12/09/2022 By Biyun Yuan

England

(https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/single-use-plastic-banning-the-distribution-andor-sale-of-plastic-straws-stirrers-and-plastic-stemmed-cotton-buds-in-england)

England will be introducing a ban for:

• plastic drinking straws(with some exceptions)
• plastic-stemmed cotton buds (with some exceptions)
• plastic drink stirrers

The ban on plastic drinking straws is planned to come into force in England in April 2020.

England will also:

• continue working with all stakeholders including disability groups to make sure that those with accessibility needs are not disproportionately disadvantaged
• explore a biodegradable standard for plastics
• take further action against plastic pollution in line with our Resources and Waste Strategyand the 25 Year Environment Plan

Germany

(https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/plastics-and-packaging-laws/germany)

In Germany, the recycling quotas set at EU level apply to, inter alia, plastic packaging.

In addition, following the amendment of the Packaging Act, the placing on the market of light plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness between 15 and up to 50 micrometres that are designed and intended to be filled at the point of sale will be prohibited in Germany from 1 January 2022. The aim is to achieve a further significant reduction in lightweight plastic carrier bags in Germany (see below under 9.). In a five-point plan, the Federal Ministry for Environment set several targets to reduce the use of plastics and to increase recycling:

• Avoid superfluous products/packaging;
• Make products/packaging more environmentally friendly;
• Strengthen recycling, use more recyclates;
• Avoid plastics in bio-waste.

International commitment against marine litter and for a sustainable use of plastics. In detail, Germany intends to ban the use of disposable plastic articles and extend the product responsibility of producers of packaging and disposable products to cover the costs of cleaning in the future.

France

(https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/plastics-and-packaging-laws/france)

For several years, the French legislator has combated plastic notably by targeted bans on several plastic products, such as giving out free single-use plastic checkout bags for packing goods at the point of sale (from 1 January 2016) or selling disposable plastic cups and plates (from 1 January 2020).

To achieve this, the Circular Economy Law introduced new measures strengthening the existing ones:

• progressive ban on additional single-use plastic products: straws, disposable glass lids,  plastic cutlery, or expanded polystyrene containers or recipients intended for on-site or on-the-go consumption, such as kebab boxes (from 1 January 2021); non-biodegradable plastic tea or herbal tea bags (from 1 January 2022);
• ban on the import and manufacture of single-use plastic bags intended for sale or for giving-out for free;
• limits on the use of plastic (see 7 below).

In addition, in February 2021, 19 stakeholders of the food delivery sector signed a Charter of commitment for the ‘Reduction of the environmental impact of packaging and Development of reuse in the food delivery sector’ with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, which notably sets a target of 50% of packaging delivered without single-use plastic by 1 January 2022 and 70% by 1 January 2023.