Fight against plastic pollution: Belgium and the Netherlands only in the European midfield

There is progress compared to the 2021 annual assessment, write Rethink Plastic and Break Free from Plastics. Following last year's deadline, the majority of member states have fully transposed the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP Directive) into national law. But we still expect key steps from governments to also implement all measures ambitiously and enforce them strictly. Belgium and the Netherlands How do things stand in Belgium and the Netherlands? Both have successfully implemented the ban on several single-use plastic products, such as straws. However, better enforcement is needed to completely prevent unwanted products with greenwashing messages (see photos below). Especially as Belgium and the Netherlands claim they want to be frontrunners in the fight against plastic pollution. After all, Dutch State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen is officially pushing for ambition at EU level. Mission Reuse responded by stating that The Hague itself can do a lot to transition from single-use to reusable packaging. Recycling Netwerk previously showed that plastic mailing bags for magazines and advertising in the Netherlands also cause 1.5 kton of unnecessary plastic waste annually. Just like France, the Netherlands could easily introduce a ban on this. On the other hand, the Netherlands is ahead by introducing a ban on single-use packaging for on-site consumption, which the report identified as the fastest and most effective method to reduce consumption. However, there are still too many loopholes in that legislation. The Dutch cabinet launched an investigation into the possibilities of a ban on plastic cigarette filters. With such a ban, the Netherlands could become a frontrunner. Belgium is banning plastic cups from 2023, which is praised by Rethink Plastic and BFFP, but due to the exemption of paper cups with a plastic lining, there is a risk of shifting the problem. Additional concrete bans without exemptions are needed to meet the consumption reduction target. For example, Luxembourg, Portugal and France ban single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables. The Rethink Plastic and BFFP report praises the ban on single-use items that Flanders introduced for events and for the offices of local authorities. The Belgian and Dutch awareness campaigns are insufficient: they were limited to existing campaigns around, for example, litter, while broader national campaigns on waste reduction are also needed. In short, Belgium and the Netherlands still need to draft a plan for the reduction of single-use plastic consumption, including quantitative reduction and reuse targets and strategies for raising awareness. The European ranking Belgium and the Netherlands can further take an example from the top performers of 2021: Greece, France and Sweden. In 2022, they are joined by Luxembourg, Cyprus, Slovenia, Denmark, Latvia and Portugal. In doing so, some even showed more ambition than the directive. The middle group consists of member states that overlook some of the key measures. Belgium and the Netherlands are there in the company of Germany, Austria, Estonia, Romania and Hungary. The member states lagging behind are Finland, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic. Pain points: enforcement, consumption reduction and awareness Rethink Plastic and Break Free from Plastics identify several pain points. For instance, in all member states, more efforts are needed to enforce the established bans, as banned items are still on the market due to greenwashing strategies and stocks that are still being sold. Regarding the proposed consumption reduction, it remains unclear how some countries will achieve this ambitious target without setting goals. Countries that invest in and promote reuse options in this regard are most likely to achieve the target, write Rethink Plastic and BFFP. Finally, the report also notes that most member states have not drafted national awareness-raising strategies and have left it to plastic and packaging manufacturers to achieve the awareness targets. In the area of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), most member states are still far from meeting their obligations in time for the 2023 and 2024 deadlines. Examples from the report of single-use products that are banned but are still sold in Belgium under the guise of being "reusable". Overview of national implementation of the Single Use Plastics Directive in EU member states as of September 2022.

There is progress compared to the 2021 annual assessment, write Rethink Plastic and Break Free from Plastics. Following last year's deadline, the majority of member states have fully transposed the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP Directive) into national law. But we still expect key steps from governments to also implement all measures ambitiously and enforce them strictly.

Belgium and the Netherlands

How do things stand in Belgium and the Netherlands? Both have successfully implemented the ban on several single-use plastic products, such as straws. However, better enforcement is needed to completely prevent unwanted products with greenwashing messages (see photos below).

Especially as Belgium and the Netherlands claim they want to be frontrunners in the fight against plastic pollution. After all, Dutch State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen is officially pushing for ambition at EU level. Mission Reuse responded by stating that The Hague itself can do a lot to transition from single-use to reusable packaging.

Recycling Netwerk previously showed that plastic mailing bags for magazines and advertising in the Netherlands cause 1.5 kton of unnecessary plastic waste annually. Just like France, the Netherlands could easily introduce a ban on this.

On the other hand, the Netherlands is ahead by introducing a ban on single-use packaging for on-site consumption, which the report identified as the fastest and most effective method to reduce consumption. However, there are still too many loopholes in that legislation.

The Dutch cabinet launched an investigation into the possibilities of a ban on plastic cigarette filters. With such a ban, the Netherlands could become a frontrunner.

Belgium is banning plastic cups from 2023, which is praised by Rethink Plastic and BFFP, but due to the exemption of paper cups with a plastic lining, there is a risk of shifting the problem. Additional concrete bans without exemptions are needed to meet the consumption reduction target. For example, Luxembourg, Portugal and France ban single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables. The Rethink Plastic and BFFP report praises the ban on single-use items that Flanders introduced for events and for the offices of local authorities.

The Belgian and Dutch awareness campaigns are insufficient: they were limited to existing campaigns around, for example, litter, while broader national campaigns on waste reduction are also needed.

In short, Belgium and the Netherlands still need to draft a plan for the reduction of single-use plastic consumption, including quantitative reduction and reuse targets and strategies for raising awareness.

The European ranking

Belgium and the Netherlands can further take an example from the top performers of 2021: Greece, France and Sweden. In 2022, they are joined by Luxembourg, Cyprus, Slovenia, Denmark, Latvia and Portugal. In doing so, some even showed more ambition than the directive.

The middle group consists of member states that overlook some of the key measures. Belgium and the Netherlands are there in the company of Germany, Austria, Estonia, Romania and Hungary.

The member states lagging behind are Finland, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic.

Pain points: enforcement, consumption reduction and awareness

Rethink Plastic and Break Free from Plastics identify several pain points. For instance, in all member states, more efforts are needed to enforce the established bans, as banned items are still on the market due to greenwashing strategies and stocks that are still being sold.

Regarding the proposed consumption reduction, it remains unclear how some countries will achieve this ambitious target without setting goals. Countries that invest in and promote reuse options in this regard are most likely to achieve the target, write Rethink Plastic and BFFP.

Finally, the report also notes that most member states have not drafted national strategies for awareness raising and have left it to plastic and packaging manufacturers to achieve the awareness targets.

In the area of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), most member states are still far from meeting their obligations in time for the 2023 and 2024 deadlines.

Examples from the report of single-use products that are banned but are still sold in Belgium under the guise of being "reusable".

Overview of national implementation of the Single Use Plastics Directive in EU member states as of September 2022.