How to bring down the use of single-use plastics?

The EU Commission has published a proposal for a Directive to cut the use of single-use plastic. Its main motivation is to protect the environment and human health. BEUC welcomes the proposal to cut down on single-use plastic through a mix of different instruments. These include banning plastic for certain uses, re-designing products, making
producers responsible for the environmental impact and informing consumers about how to appropriately dispose of certain plastic containing items. European consumer groups suggest the following improvements: 

• The Directive should clearly state in its objective that the terrestrial and aquatic environment need to be protected. Just focusing on the marine environment would be too limited.
• Additional measures should be taken regarding cigarette filters which contain plastic, currently not in the proposal. Member States should take additional measures to bring down the use of such filters and set up proper collection systems.
• Specific EU-wide reduction targets for food and beverage containers are needed.
• Deposit schemes for plastic bottles should be set up in all EU-countries where these do not yet exist to ensure a proper collection and recycling process of single-use plastic bottles. This should be mandatory and not be left to the Member States to choose as only one of the options.
• Prevent a shift to other single use items that are not adequately regulated, such as paper and cardboard used as food contact material.
• Prevent exposure to harmful chemicals which are used in re-useable plastics.
• In addition to introducing new labelling requirements, some misleading practices should be banned.
• Awareness rising measures need to be well targeted.
• The effects of the Regulation should be checked after four instead of six years.