On the 3rd of July 2021, the European Union decided to act against the pollution caused by all the different kinds of plastic waste that are slowly but steadily increasing every day in beaches, seas and oceans alike. Thus, the ban of single-use plastic products was first introduced in Europe. More than two years later and with the hashtag “Cut The Cutlery” growing stronger amongst English citizens, UK government decided to follow the example of the EU, by enacting the same ban across the country.
The ban
From October 1st, all UK businesses are prohibited from supplying, selling or importing a list of single-use plastic products. What’s more, if a business has an already existing supply of these products, it should use its stock before the start of October and also find re-usable alternative items with which it should be replaced. The ban includes the supply of the following plastic items:
- Plates, bowls and trays
- Cutlery and balloon sticks
- Polystyrene food and drink containers
Ban exemptions
Excluded from the aforementioned ban, are businesses that either supply single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays to a different business or the plastic items are used for packaging (filled beforehand or at the time of sale -e.g., salad bowls). Furthermore, businesses can still use polystyrene food and drink containers only in the case of a product that is in need of further preparation by the final consumer before using (e.g. boiling, baking).
Inspections and fines
After the implementation of single-use plastic ban, the authorities of England will begin carrying out inspections to the stores of UK. By visiting certain shops, making purchases and speaking to the staff, they will determine if an organization is following the rules of the new single-use plastics ban. If that is not the case for a store, the inspectors can issue a fine. In this case, if the owner of the organization has received a fine and wishes to appeal it, they can do so within 28 days of its imposition.
If you are looking for viable and eco-friendly solutions for your packaging, contact our team and will determine together the best choice for your business.
