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Single-use – also known as disposable – plastics face a number of concerns regarding the appropriate use of natural resources, the challenges of proper disposal, and a growing litter problem on land, along coasts, and in the oceans and other bodies of water.
While governments and people across the globe have historically been reluctant to address these issues, that has been changing in recent years. A dramatic increase in the regulation of single-use plastics – e.g., plastic retail bags, plastic straws and stirrers, take-out containers and cups made from foamed and rigid plastic, plastic cutlery – worldwide has caused uncertainty among suppliers, providers, and end users.
Understanding how various countries and regions see the problem, how they attempt to solve the problem, and what the transition periods look like around the world will help businesses better plan for the coming changes.
How to Attack the Problem of Single-Use Plastic Waste?
Although many have accepted the need to reduce the use of single-use plastics, countries are still debating the best way to do that. Common strategies include:
- Voluntary efforts – some business establishments and organizations take the step to voluntarily stop providing these items for free or at all.
- Taxes or fees – often an early step to ease the public into accepting other forms of packaging and to give businesses time to develop suitable alternatives.
- Bans – often the last step taken if voluntary measures or taxes and fees do not achieve the desired results.
Still others choose to concentrate on the litter end of the problem by instead improving their waste infrastructure with better collection practices and more opportunities for recycling.
However, in many cases, particularly island nations and others with limited space for landfills, plans are increasingly shifting from expanding recycling to opting for reusable alternatives and reducing single-use plastic consumption altogether.
Factors Behind the Regulations
In many cases, governments consider regulations when the problem of excessive plastic waste becomes visible and results in public outcry. For instance:
- Coastal nations see large amounts of plastic waste along their shores, harming both fishing and tourism industries.
- Shortcomings with local waste disposal practices – e.g., a lack of or insufficient formal waste disposal infrastructure, a garbage removal strike – result in plastic litter being seen where it had not been previously.
- Viral videos and news events show marine animals being harmed by large amounts of plastic waste.
- There is greater public awareness of microplastics in our water, in our food, and in ourselves.
Some areas – particularly lower income countries – are limiting and eliminating disposable plastic items out of need: ecology for economy’s sake. A culture of reuse, even for plastic bags and other items that wealthier countries might generally view as disposable, can limit single-use plastic waste.
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Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. What Are Single-Use Plastics?
Scope & Definition
Straws
Stirrers
Beverage & Portion Cups
Lids
Retail Bags
Produce & Bakery Bags
Takeout Containers
Clamshells & Two-Piece Containers
Rigid Plastic
Plastic Foam
Food Wrap
Cutlery
Beverage Carrier Rings
3. Pros & Cons of Single-Use Plastics
Issues with Single-Use Plastics
Litter & Microplastics
Landfill & Incineration
Lack of Recycling & Use of Non-Renewable Resources
Benefits of Single-Use Plastics
Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics
Reusable Plastics
Paper
Wood & Metal
Natural Fibers
Molded Pulp
4. Regulations
Bans & Fees
Preemptions
The Success & Unintended Consequences of Bans
5. North America
United States
United States: Single-Use Bag Regulations
United States: Foamed Plastic Foodservice Container Regulations
United States: Plastic Straw Regulations
Canada
Mexico
6. Europe
European Union
Non-European Union
7. Other Regions
Africa
Middle East
Asia/Pacific
Central & South America
8. Appendix
Scope
Definitions
Abbreviations
Freedonia Methodology
Study-Specific Methodology
Sources
Associations & Agencies
Related Studies & Reports
Macroeconomic Assumptions
Global Economic Outlook
Global Population
Global Personal Consumption Expenditures
List of Tables
5. North America
Table 5-1 | US State Retail Bag Regulations by Year Implemented & Type
Table 5-2 | Canada Single-Use Plastic Packaging Bans by Year Implemented
Table 5-3 | Mexico Single-Use Plastic Packaging Bans by Year Implemented
6. Europe
Table 6-1 | European Union Single-Use Plastic Packaging Bans by Regulations by Year Implemented & Type
Table 6-2 | Non-European Union Single-Use Plastic Packaging Regulations by Year Implemented & Type
7. Other Regions
Table 7-1 | Africa Single-Use Plastic Packaging Regulations by Year Implemented & Type
Table 7-2 | Middle East Single-Use Plastic Packaging Regulations by Year Implemented & Type
Table 7-3 | Asia/Pacific Single-Use Plastic Packaging Regulations by Year Implemented & Type
Table 7-4 | Central & South America Single-Use Plastic Packaging Regulations by Year Implemented & Type
8. Appendix
Table 8-1 | Relevant Industry Codes
Table 8-2 | Relevant HS Codes
Table 8-3 | Abbreviations & Acronyms Used in Study
Table 8-4 | Global Gross Domestic Product by Region & Country, 2008 - 2023 (billion 2017 dollars)
Table 8-5 | Global Population by Region & Country, 2008 - 2023 (million persons)
Table 8-6 | Global Personal Consumption Expenditures by Region & Country, 2008 - 2023 (billion 2017 dollars)
List of Figures
2. What Are Single-Use Plastics?
Figure 2-1 | Single-Use Plastic Straws: Key Markets & Competitive Products
Figure 2-2 | Single-Use Plastic Stirrers: Key Markets & Competitive Products
Figure 2-3 | Single-Use Plastic Beverage & Portion Cups: Key Markets & Competitive Products
Figure 2-4 | Single-Use Plastic Lids: Key Markets & Competitive Products
Figure 2-5 | Single-Use Plastic Retail Bags: Key Markets & Competitive Products
Figure 2-6 | Single-Use Plastic Produce & Bakery Bags: Key Markets & Competitive Products
Figure 2-7 | Single-Use Plastic Takeout Containers: Key Markets & Competitive Products
Figure 2-8 | Single-Use Plastic Food Wrap: Key Markets & Competitive Materials
Figure 2-9 | Single-Use Plastic Cutlery: Key Markets & Competitive Products
Figure 2-10 | Single-Use Plastic Beverage Carrier Rings: Key Markets & Competitive Products
8. Appendix
Figure 8-1 | Retail Bags
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