Ban of single-use plastic bags: deal reached in Europe.

Single-use plastic shopping bags are usually distributed (for free) to customers by stores when purchasing goods. It is a popular method that is practiced in many countries for being a strong, cheap, and hygienic way of transporting items. Problems associated with plastic bags include use of non-renewable resources (such as crude oil, gas and coal), disposal, and environmental impacts.

Following the November 2013 European Commission proposal to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic bags in the EU, amending the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC), the European Parliament and the Council agreed on the 21st of November 2014 on EU-wide legislation obliging member states to reduce the use of plastic bags. The law will apply only to bags with a thickness below 0.05mm, because they are less reusable, and turn into waste more quickly.

Member states have a choice; they can either cut the use of plastics bags per person from currently 198 to 90 by 2019 and 40 by 2025, or start charging them from 2018. The reduction targets equate to a 50% drop use by 2019 and 80% drop by 2025. The deal does not include a ban on biodegradable bag that the parliament originally wanted. Instead, the European commission has a mandate to research this first further.

The Committee of the Regions – which represents Europe's local and regional authorities - expressed disappointment as EU Member States and MEPs came to an agreement which would ensure that by 2019 no more than 90 plastic bags per person per year will be used. The Committee had hoped for an outright ban of free plastic bags by 2020, compulsory EU targets for all Member States and the introduction of charges for all carrier bags to ensure an 80% reduction.

Industry warned that such rules will have a negative impact on trade in Europe's internal market; the ban could also lead to different standards in legislation in member states and ultimately, to a ban on other types of packaging. According to PlasticsEurope, the association of plastics manufacturers, under the new law, member states can also introduce a complete ban on plastic bags at their own discretion. Such a decision, if implemented, is against the principle of free movement of goods, said PlasticsEurope.

The following map provides an overviews of the countries around the world where plastic bags are regulated. More information on the steps taken by India towards regulating plastics production and plastic wastes can be found in the 14.05.2014 MCM publication.

Map of lightweight plastic bag laws (Source: wikipedia)