The crusade against plastic in Europe took another important step and hotels will have to get involved with the
elimination of small bottles of shampoo, conditioner and other amenities
offered to guests.
Last week, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union reached a provisional agreement on renewed rules to
reduce, reuse and recycle packaging
, increase safety and boost the circular economy.
The new measures aim to make packaging used in the EU
safer and more sustainable
, requiring all to be recyclable, minimizing the presence of harmful substances, reducing unnecessary packaging, boosting the adoption of recycled content and improving collection and disposal. recycling.
The agreement - which must continue its processing and be voted on by both institutions to come into force - establishes a series of packaging reduction objectives:
5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040.
In turn, it requires EU countries to reduce the amount of plastic packaging waste, eliminating excessive packaging and single-use plastics (for example, disposable plates and straws).
In this context, it was decided that
miniature packaging for toiletries
and shrink wrapping for suitcases at airports will be banned from January 1, 2030.
The most controversial plastics
It is estimated that
each European generates almost 190 kilos of plastic packaging waste per year
.
The hotels offer towels, soap, shampoo and shower caps, among other amenities.
Photo Shutterstock
According to the agreement, from January 1, 2030, many of the common plastics in the supermarket will be banned, as well as certain single-use packaging.
These are the prohibitions that will arrive in just over five years:
Miniature single-use containers for hotels
: from 2030 there will no longer be small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand and body cream, or bags with miniature bars of soap in hotel rooms.
Cosmetic, hygiene and toiletry products
of less than 50 ml if they are liquid products or less than 100 g if they are non-liquid products.
Hotel amenities are included in the rate.
Photo Shutterstock
Collective single-use plastic packaging:
plastic to group
, for example, three packages of coffee in the supermarket or a pack of 12 cans of beer.
Single-use packaging, made of plastic or other material, for fresh fruit and vegetables
: the directive prohibits single-use "nets, bags, trays" and "containers" for quantities less than 1.5 kg.
It establishes exceptions for "a demonstrated need to avoid loss of water or turgor, microbiological hazards or physical shock" to the product.
Single-use containers, made of plastic or other materials,
for food and drinks in bars and restaurants
: the regulations mention "disposable trays, plates and cups, bags, covers, boxes."
Single-dose sauces, milk or condiments
: single-use containers in the hospitality and restaurant sector, with individual doses or portions, used for condiments, preserves, sauces, milk for coffee, sugar.
The exception will be containers that are supplied with "prepared to take away" food.
Light plastic bags, less than 15 microns, unless used for "sanitary reasons" or provided to avoid food waste.