Will the EU ban on single-use plastic sachets apply to Switzerland?

Single-use plastic sachets, such as ketchup and mayonnaise, will be banned in cafes and restaurants in the EU from 2030. Will these rules apply to Switzerland?

EU bans single-use plastic sachets 

Single-use plastic sachets commonly used in restaurants and cafes for sauces like ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, soya sauce, along with plastic pots for milk and cream, will soon be banned across the EU.

From 2030, hospitality services will no longer be permitted to use single-use plastic packages which contain a single portion. The new rules will also apply to salt, pepper and other flavouring sachets, which are often already made from paper.

Businesses will still be able to use single-use plastic packaging for a single portion of food or drink that is intended to be consumed on the go or at home. There will also be some exceptions in place for hospitals and care homes where single-use plastic packaging is necessary for hygiene reasons.

Will the EU single-use plastic sachet ban apply to Switzerland?

Switzerland is not a member of the EU so the EU’s Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) will not automatically apply to the alpine nation. However, the Swiss government has shared its commitment “to harmonising the national regulations with EU rules so that goods can be traded freely,” according to the Federal Office for the Environment’s website.

The government is in the process of drafting a new Packaging Ordinance (Verpackungsverordung or VSPR), which would aim to “strengthen the circular economy in the packaging sector and introduce uniform requirements for plastic packaging,” reports the Swiss Plastic Recyclers Association. Furthermore, Switzerland has set a 55 percent target for recycling single-use plastic packaging.

Swiss supermarkets preparing for plastic sachet ban

Migros, a popular Swiss supermarket, is “preparing for the possibility of similar regulations being introduced in Switzerland,” says spokesperson for Migros Prisca Hugenin-dit-Lenoir. However, both Migros and Coop have expressed a need to continue meeting “hygiene standards and customer needs”, reports Watson.

Regardless of the proposed Swiss law, the country could still see single-use plastic packaging start to disappear from cafes and restaurants as many international companies begin to comply with EU regulations. Restaurants and cafes may instead provide refillable sauce dispensers or more eco-friendly alternatives like a glass or wafer dish.

This article originally appeared on IamExpat in Germany.