European Commission highlights plastic bag pollution on International Plastic Bag Free Day

On the occasion of International Plastic Bag Free Day, the European Commission identified plastic bags among the ten most frequent waste items found in the European environment. These items are often used only once but require hundreds of years to decompose. This initiative supports the global Break Free From Plastic movement, which aims to reduce plastic consumption and raise awareness about environmental damage. The European Union has implemented several legislative measures to address this issue, including the Plastic Bags Directive and the Single-Use Plastics Directive. The Plastic Bags Directive mandates that member states reduce the average annual consumption of thin plastic carrier bags. To achieve these reduction targets, countries may utilize economic instruments such as taxes and fees, or implement direct market restrictions. Additionally, the Single-Use Plastics Directive provides a framework for reducing the consumption of various single-use plastic products across the bloc.