PLASTIC BANS AROUND THE WORLD
Plastic is toxic and its use is being discouraged in many countries around the world today. More and more countries are regulating plastic use, and have introduced bans and restrictions on a wide array of single-use plastics in daily use. This follows greater awareness of plastics’ negative impact on human health and the environment.
What plastics have been prohibited where? Here’s a quick overview.
The United Kingdom banned plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds in England in October 2023. The European Union banned 10 common single-use plastics in 2019, including plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks, cotton buds, cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, products made of oxo-degradable plastic.
Canada banned plastic shopping bags, straws, stir sticks, utensils, and foam cups. In the US, some states have banned single-use plastic bags, including California, New York, and Hawaii.
China banned non-degradable bags and utensils in all cities and towns by 2022. India banned the manufacture, distribution, stocking, sale, and use of 19 single-use plastic items in July 2022 (cutlery, straws, sticks, bags, banners, thermocol, earbuds, packaging, cigarette packets).
Kenya banned single-use plastic bags in 2017. Zimbabwe banned polystyrene food containers in 2017. Antigua and Barbuda banned single-use catering and takeaway items in 2016, and the Pacific island of Vanuatu did the same for disposable containers in 2018.
Rwanda is the first ever country in the world to claim the title of “plastic-free”, attaining it in 2008 merely through a plastic bags and plastic packaging ban. Palau utilises its Plastic Bag Use Reduction Act which does not allow plastic bags to be distributed and prohibits import of plastic bag products. Furthermore, Palau has implemented a zero disposable plastic policy through which it has banned disposable plastic and polystyrene beverage containers in all government properties.
Chile has started phasing out single-use plastics at restaurants and food delivery services. Fiji banned plastic bags made of polyethylene (PET).
Namibia banned single-use plastic bags in protected areas, and is charging a fee for using them in shops across the country.
Portugal banned free plastic bags in all commercial businesses, along with single-use plastic from catering services since 2020.
Seychelles prohibited the import, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of plastic bags, plastic utensils, and polystyrene boxes.
PAVING THE WAY TO PLASTIC-FREE LIVING
The global battle against plastics has not abated. From countries and provinces to cities and municipalities, strict policies and action plans have been introduced to reduce and eliminate plastic use to protect people and the planet.
All the plastics bans and regulations that are in place around the world today will help to pave the way to plastic-free living.
North America: 10 states and more than 200 cities, countries and municipalities of the USA have passed bans on single use plastic bags. Mexico City has banned numerous single use items, including bags, food containers, cutlery, straw, cups, lids, tampon applicators, ballons and ballon sticks.
South America: 27 of 33 countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LAC) have passed laws to restrict and reduce single use plastics. Since phasing out the plastic bags, straws, takeaway containers and bottles in 2018, Ecuador is turning the Galapagos Islands into a plastic-free archipelago.
Europe: The European Union banned a range of single-use plastic (SUP) products in 2021 all 27 member countries and the directive has similar mandates in non-EU countries such as the UK, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania.
Africa: Out of 54 countries, 34 have passed laws banning plastics. Kenya has some of the strictest SUP bans in the world, with heavy fines for non-compliance.
Asia: India banned 19 SUP products in 2022, with similar bans rolling out across Indonesia and Thailand. China has begun phasing out SUP products and is implementing bans by industry, with restaurants to reduce SUP use by 30% by 2025, and hotels to stop offering plastic amenities.
Oceania: Along with the usual SUP products of straws, stirrers and cutlery, the Australian state of Queensland has banned outdoor balloon releases and polystyrene loose packaging, including “packing peanuts”. In 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand became the first country to ban SUP bags for fresh produce in supermarkets, expanding its existing bag ban that came into effect in 2019.
ACTION PLANS – by Country and Region
European Union
> Single-Use Plastics Ban: Since July 2021, SUP plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and cotton buds are banned across all EU Member States. Cups, food, and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene are also banned.
> Oxo-Degradable Ban: All products made of oxo-degradable plastic are banned across the EU.
> Waste Exports: An agreement was made in November 2023 to ban the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries, ending the shifting of burden of plastic waste from richer countries to poorer countries.
The Netherlands
> Takeaway Tax: Since July 2023, customers of takeaway locations have to pay for any disposable cups or containers containing plastic. Meals and drinks prepared on site are offered in reusable cups and containers with a deposit.
> Deposit Return Scheme: Consumers are charged a deposit – usually around €1, on all plastic bottles of water or soda of 3 litres or less. The deposit is returned when the consumer returns the bottle to reverse-vending machines.
UK
> National Bans: Broadly following the EU legislation, the nations of England, Scotland and Wales have each banned single-use plastic cutlery, plates, bowls, trays, balloon sticks, and polystyrene food and drink containers.
> Bag Charges: Since 2015, retailers have had to charge a fee for plastic carrier bags – with the proceeds going to charitable and environmental causes. The law has raised hundreds of millions of pounds – and reduced carrier bag usage by 95%.
Indonesia
> Bali Bans: Plastic shopping bags, straws and Styrofoam have been banned since 2018 – and in 2022 the island introduced plans to ban all single-use plastic.
> Single-Use Plastic Ban Plan: Indonesia will ban SUP, including shopping bags, straws, cutlery, and Styrofoam food packaging by the end of 2029. Each province will be instructed to produce plastic waste reduction roadmap and manufactures are mandated to reduce their packaging waste by 30% to support the phase out of the plastic waste.
China
> Bag Bans: Ultra-thin plastic bags have been banned since 2008, thicker bags being phased out across towns and cities in 2022, and the full ban in place by 2025.
> Restaurant Industry: The restaurant industry has been mandated to reduce SUP items by 30%, with a timetable for phasing out all SUP tableware (cutlery, chopsticks, straws, stirrers) by the end of 2025.
> Hotel Amenities: Hotels must stop offering free SUP items by 2025, such as bathroom amenities and toiletries.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh was the first country in the world to ban thin plastic bags in 2002 – bringing in the law after it was found that plastic bag pollution was a contributor to clogging drainage systems during disastrous flooding. Since 2002, more than 130 other countries have followed suit – bringing in full or partial bans on SUP bags.
India
Low Utility, High Waste: In July 2022, India banned 19 single-use items that are “low utility, high potential to become litter” – including cutlery, straws, drinks stirrers, cotton buds, candy wrappers and cigarette packets. The ban includes the production, importation, stock, distribution, and sale of the items.
Japan
> Minimum Charges: In 2020, SUP legislation was introduced that required retailers to charge for plastic shopping bags at over 1 Yen. Exemptions were given to plastic bags thicker than 0.05cm, which are defined as reusable; 100% biodegradable bags; or bags made from materials with bio-based content greater than 25%. Bio-content must be certified with “biomass marks” from the Japan Bioplastics Association or the Japan Organic Resources Association.
> Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Law: In April 2022, the government made it mandatory for businesses to reduce SUP waste. The law covers 12 items, including spoons, forks, hotel amenities, and hangers at dry cleaning stores. Businesses can decide the reduction methods, whether reducing the weight, charging a fee, switching to alternative materials, or giving points to customers who turn the item down.
Thailand
> Restricted Area: Since 2019, Thailand banned SUPs from 155 national parks for the conservation of natural resources. Bringing and using SUP and foam containers, including plastic bags with a thickness of less than 36 microns, food containers, cups, straws, and cutlery are prohibited.
> Plastic Waste Import Ban: In February 2025, Thailand announced that it will be banning the import of all plastic waste by 2025. In the first phase this year, plastic waste import was restricted to 14 recycling plants in the tax-free zones; the country restricted imports to only what it can use in production.
USA
> Patchwork Laws: There are no nationwide bans on plastics or products, but 10 states, more than 200 counties and municipalities have placed bans on plastic bags – with many more states and counties charging levies on the sale of bags.
> California: California was the first state to ban plastic bags, the statewide ban has been in effect since 2016 . In 2022 the state passed a law to ensure a 25% reduction in SUPs by 2032, with ambitious targets to improve recycling rates and reduce plastic pollution.
> Balloon Bans: Balloon releases have been banned in the states of Maryland, Virginia, and Hawaii as well as many coastal cities like Laguna Beach. Balloons are particularly hazardous for marine wildlife and birds: latex balloons are 32 times more likely to kill seabirds than hard plastic.
> Bans on Bans: 17 states have declared that it’s illegal to ban plastic items – creating complicated legal hurdles to environmental protections.
Canada
Toxic Debate: In December 2022 a ban came into effect, prohibiting plastic bags, cutlery, straws, six-pack rings, drinks stirrers and some food service packaging. The legislation declared the items to be toxic substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. However, in November 2023 the Federal Court in Ottawa ruled that the legislation was “unreasonable and unconstitutional” in its labelling of the items as toxic. The case is now ongoing, with the government expected to update the legislation to be more specific about the plastics and the uses of plastics that are banned.
Mexico
> Capital Ban: The country’s capital, Mexico City banned a wide range of SUP items, including food containers, cutlery, straws, cups, lids, balloons, and balloon sticks. This legislation came into effect in 2021, joining an existing ban on plastic bags.
> Tampon Controversy: The 2021 ban included plastic tampon applicators, prompting debate and alarm that rates of period poverty would increase. Mexico City has a poverty rate of 30%, and more than 2% of people don’t have access to water – meaning that alternative products like reusable menstrual cups are financially prohibitive or challenging to use. Headlines were made around the world, but many brands had already switched to non-applicator or carboard applicator products.
Rwanda
> Total SUP Ban: In October 2019, Rwanda became the first African country to issue a complete ban on all SUPs.
> Travel Ban: The ban on SUP bags extends to visitors traveling to Rwanda, who cannot bring plastic bags with them into the country.
> “Umuganda”: The last Saturday of the month is known as “Umuganda” – where all citizens take part in mandatory community service to participate in clean-up operations, which has resulted in significant reduction of plastic pollution.
Kenya
> Heavy Penalties: Since 2017, Kenya made a groundbreaking move with SUP bags ban. The law came with heavy penalties; violators either got fines or a criminal sentence. Manufacturing, importing or selling single-use plastic bans could earn a fine of $40,000, whilst using one faces a fine of $500.
> Protected from Plastic: In 2020, SUPs were prohibited in protected areas such as parks and forests.
> Bad Neighbours: In 2023, the Kenyan government promised to enforce the bans more strictly, to stop the import of banned goods from neighbouring countries which don’t have such bans.
Zimbabwe
Sustainable Alternatives: Since 2017, government has ordered the food industry to stop using expanded polystyrene (EPS) containers and replace them with recyclable or biodegradable ones.
Argentina
Microbeads Ban: In 2020, a law was adopted that prohibits the production, import, and marketing of cosmetic and personal hygiene products that contain plastic microbeads intentionally added for exfoliation, including lotions, makeup products, toothpaste, nail polish, and soap, among other products.
Brazil
> Proposal to Single-Use Plastics Ban: In October 2023, Brazil passed a draft bill which would implement a ban for SUP products made from non-compostable materials within one year and plastic packaging that is non-recyclable or compostable within 7 years.
> Local Movement: Brazil doesn’t have a country-wide plastic ban in place, but local governments have adopted local bans on bags, straws, and other SUP products.
Colombia
> Single-Use Plastics Prohibition: Since 2022, Colombia prohibited products containing SUPs from being manufactured, imported, exported, marketed, and distributed within the country. The ban on plastic bags and cutlery will be in force from January 2025 while plastic holders and swabs will be from January 2026. Some SUPs are exempted from the requirements and prohibitions, including plastics that are used in animal, processed, and wet foods, medical practices, and health care activities.
> Sustainable Plan: The National Plan for the Sustainable Management of Single-Use Plastics aims to ensure that 100% of SUPs placed on the market are reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030.
Australia
> State by State: The states of Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia have introduced SUP bans for a range of items. In all 3 states plastic-stemmed cotton buds are prohibited.
> Balloon Ban: Queensland has banned outdoor balloon releases, and polystyrene loose packaging, including “packing peanuts”.
> Reusability Tests: Queensland government also requires non-woven plastic shopping bags with a thickness of 35 microns or more to pass reusability tests for 125 uses, while non-compostable plastic shopping bags must contain at least 80% recycled content.