SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BANS
Single-Use Plastic Ban: Get ready for the new UK law
The UK government has announced new far-reaching single-use plastic bans. Single-Use Plastic bans are an effective strategy to speed up the transition toward a circular economy. The goal is to reduce plastic pollution on land and in the oceans and reduce the unsustainable use of fossil fuels to make packaging.
Stay ahead of the bans by simply searching your country's rules below to find out what items are banned and shop compliant sustainable packaging alternatives. BioPak offers certified compostable alternatives made from sustainably sourced and rapidly renewable materials – so you can feel confident that we have the right solution for you.
Where and when will the single-use plastic ban come into effect?
The new law will bring England and Wales in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland, which both introduced similar single-use plastic bans in 2022 and 2020, respectively.
The main ban comes into force 1st October, this includes a ban on the supply to end users of single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon stickers and expanded or extruded polystyrene cups, trays and takeaway containers.
Polystyrene trays and containers are completely banned except when they are being used as packaging and the food inside them requires additional preparation, e.g. heating or cooking.
England is the only home nation to also include a ban on plastic bowls and trays, this includes items lined with plastic, including our PLA-lined biobowl containers.
These bowls (and other banned items) can still be used as "packaging". This means that if you are using our containers for delivery, takeaway or for storing food in retail, you are still allowed to use these items.
Full detail can be found here -
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/single-use-plastics-ban-plates-bowls-trays-containers-cutlery-and-balloon-sticks
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Cutlery |
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Straws |
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Cups |
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Cup Lids |
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Bowls |
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Containers |
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Bowls & Container Lids |
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Plates |
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Trays |
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Phase 1 comes into force Oct 2023, and covers plates, cutlery, stirrers, cups made of expanded or foamed extruded polystyrene, food containers made of expanded or foamed extruded polystyrene, balloon sticks, plastic cotton buds and drinking straws.
Phase 2 comes into force in 2024 and covers single-use plastic carrier bags. polystyrene lids for cups and takeaway food containers and oxodegradable plastic products
Key difference to other countries is the ban on ALL polystyrene lids for food containers and takeaway cups.
Like Scotland, they do not include "Bowls" and "trays" in their definition of plates.
Full detail can be found here -
Click here
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Cutlery |
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Straws |
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Cups |
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Cup Lids |
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Bowls |
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Containers |
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Bowls & Container Lids |
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Plates |
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Trays |
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Main ban in place since 2022.
Covers the same products as England, but does not include "Bowls" or "Trays" in their definition of plates.
Makes a distinction between Expanded polystyrene lids and standard polystyrene lids (most lids on the market are standard polystyrene.)
Full detail can be found here -
Click here
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Cutlery |
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Straws |
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Cups |
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Cup Lids |
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Bowls |
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Containers |
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Bowls & Container Lids |
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Plates |
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Trays |
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Brought in parts of the EU Single Use Plastics Directive to the Northern Ireland Protocol in Jan 2022.
A turtle logo is required on several lines as part of the "consumption reduction measures" brought in by the Directive
The parts of the EU SUP directive brought in, can be found here -
Click here
Internal Markets Act
To comply with the Internal Markets Act, products manufactured or imported into a country where said products comply, can be sold in other countries even where those products fall under legislation. Eg. If you manufacture in Scotland and comply with Scottish regulations, you can sell your item into England, even if you're product DOES NOT comply with regulations there.
| Banned Items | Territory Info | BioPak Alternatives | |||||||||||||
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Cutlery |
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Straws |
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Cups |
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Cup Lids |
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Bowls |
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Containers |
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Bowls & Container Lids |
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Plates |
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Trays |
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Where and when will the single-use plastic ban come into effect?
In Scotland, businesses have been banned from selling many types of single-use packaging, along with some forms of polystyrene, since 2022.In Northern Ireland, certain single-use plastics have been banned since as early as 2020.
UK Businesses are also subject to a Plastic Packaging Tax of £210.82 per tonne, payable on any plastic packaging that doesn’t meet the minimum threshold of at least 30% recycled content. To pay the tax, businesses need to submit a tax return four times across the year.
A ban on plastic single-use carrier bags and products made of oxo-degradable plastic will be implemented at a later date in some territories to enable businesses time to use up their existing stock and to find alternative packing options.
Find Alternative Plastic Packaging Options
The best way to prepare your business for the ban on single-use plastic packaging is to start finding suitable non-plastic alternatives now. We have a range of sustainable food service packaging products available at BioPak to help you find the perfect alternative to your single-use plastic items.
Read More About Plastic Bans & Alternatives to Plastic
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BioPlastics vs Plastics: What’s Better for the Environment?Are plant-based bioplastics really better for the environment?
Learn more -
BioPak Signs New Plastics Economy Global CommitmentWe signed the New Plastics Economy initiative to stop plastic pollution.
Learn more -
Why bioplastics play a role in a sustainable packaging futureWe believe that some compostable bioplastic products have a role to play.
Learn more
Start Composting at Your Foodservice Business
Compost Connect is a not-for-profit platform connecting foodservice businesses to commercial organic waste pick-up services. Compost Connect is powered by First Mile, providing a pay-as-you-go service, making compostable packaging collections more accessible across the food service sector.
We launched Compost Connect to take responsibility for where our packaging ends up. Food and organic waste decomposing in landfill emits methane, a greenhouse gas that’s on average 28 times more potent than CO2. By joining Compost Connect, you’ll be diverting waste from landfill, reducing emissions, showing your commitment to environmental sustainability, and turning your food and packaging waste into nutrient-rich compost!
