Single-use products

Proposal for an Ordinance on single-use products

The regulations implement Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (single-use plastics directive).

Anyone who on the Swedish market provides beverages in a single-use cup or fast food in a single-use lunchbox shall
– offer an opportunity to have the beverage or food served in a reusable mug or lunchbox,
– take effective measures so that the reusable mugs, lunch boxes and their lids rotate several times, and
– at the point of sale, inform consumers about the possibility of having the beverage or food served in a reusable mug or lunchbox, the environmental impact of single-use cups and single-use lunchboxes for fast food and the benefits of the reduced consumption of single-use cups and single-use lunchboxes for fast food.

The reusable mugs and lunchboxes shall be provided by the provider of the beverage or food, regardless of whether the beverage or food is to be taken out or drunk or eaten at the point of sale.
The information shall be made visible at the point of sale and be easily accessible to consumers.
The requirements shall enter into force on 1 January 2024.
The requirements for providing reusable mugs and lunchboxes shall not apply to those who place on the Swedish market beverages in a single-use cup or fast food in a single-use lunchbox consisting entirely of paper or cardboard that has not been chemically modified in a way that delays decomposition.
The requirements shall not apply to those who place on the Swedish market beverage and fast food on average in less than 150 (from 2024) and 75 (from 2026) single-use cups and single-use lunchboxes per day that the business is open during a calendar year. Those covered by the exemption shall have procedures to ensure that no more than 150 and 75 single-use cups and single-use lunchboxes are provided per day on average.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency may issue provisions on exemptions from the requirements for cases where it is unreasonable to require the person who provides beverages or fast food in a single-use cup or single-use lunchbox to provide a reusable alternative. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will monitor that the consumption of single-use cups and single-use lunchboxes for fast food reduces.
It shall be forbidden to place single-use cups containing more than 15 percent plastic on the Swedish market.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency shall issue regulations on exemptions from the ban on single-use cups, if there are special reasons for placing on the Swedish market.
The prohibition shall enter into force on 1 January 2024.
It shall be forbidden to use confetti that contains plastic outdoors.
The prohibition shall enter into force on 30 April 2022.