Environmental movement demands stronger policy measures against single-use plastic

The coalition, consisting of Recycling Netwerk Benelux, Stichting De Noordzee, Plastic Soup Foundation, Plastic Soup Surfer and Natuur & Milieu, is calling on the current and new cabinet to focus more strongly on prevention and reuse.

The Netherlands ranks fourth among countries that produce the most plastic waste worldwide, according to recent research. In addition to the list of plastic products that will be banned from 3 July, the coalition states there are many more polluting products such as plastic confetti, spatplastics and plastic fireworks that end up in nature. Therefore, the coalition is asking the new cabinet to expand the list of banned plastic products as soon as possible. Inspiration for this is provided by the French circular economy law, which already goes further than the minimum requirements of the European directive. For example, the French law bans plastic tea bags, among other things.

Reuse is central to the recommendations of the environmental organisations, not only to tackle litter but also to reduce resource consumption. Annually, around three billion coffee cups are thrown away in the Netherlands after a single use, along with approximately 876 million packaging units for takeaway and delivery meals.

It is therefore not surprising that single-use beverage and food packaging (or fragments thereof) is found in the top 5 of litter along Dutch riverbanks, but also on beaches and in the sea where they contribute to the global plastic soup. The coalition is therefore calling on the current government to include ambitious reduction targets in a ministerial regulation that is currently being prepared. By replacing single-use packaging with reusable alternatives, the number of single-use drinking cups on the market could be halved by 2026 and the number of meal containers reduced by at least 30%.

A first concrete step in the transition to reuse is to stop using single-use packaging within government institutions and during public events, as the Flemish government already decided last year. The environmental organisations propose introducing legislation, as in Germany, that obliges the catering industry to use reusable eating and drinking utensils for on-site consumption, and to offer reusable packaging for takeaway. Finally, the coalition advocates for a ban on offering single-use plastic drinking cups and meal containers for free. Recent research by CE Delft shows that pricing single-use drinking cups at €0.25 is effective in encouraging consumers to opt for reusable cups.