Click here to read the Spanish version.
The mythical ketchup and mayonnaise sachets of fast food chains will soon disappear from restaurants. From 2023, the European Union wants to eradicate all single-serving packets of sauces in the hotel and catering industry. This also applies to other products such as shampoos.
According to the new regulation, all such establishments will also have to allow customers to refill their own coffee or sauce on the spot in line with their eco-futuristic strategy to combat climate change by reusing and/or reducing the high consumption of plastic packaging, which generates several million tonnes of waste. Final distributors of beverages and take-away food will have to offer consumers the option to bring their own container’.
Products the EU wants to eradicate
One of the long-term goals is to eliminate all packaging for fresh, unprocessed fruit and vegetables, such as the usual trays for fresh fruit and vegetables. Also packaging such as single-use salad or pasta dishes.
In addition to single-dose containers such as those for sauces, the list will also include packaging for sugar or personal hygiene products such as shampoos or gels. And, of course, the plastic bags in supermarkets, which are gradually being phased out.
The aim behind this is to achieve a gradual de-escalation in their use, dropping from 5% of the total use of plastic bags to 5% of the total use of plastic bags.
The aim behind this is to achieve a progressive de-escalation in their use, down from 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040. However, a number of issues remain to be addressed in the final negotiation on these measures – between EU member states and other international states – in South Korea from 25 November to 2 December.
