The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and its impact on tobacco products: A policy analysis

Single-use plastics (SUPs), which are used only once or briefly, have become a significant source of litter on European beaches and seas. The European Union (EU), approved the SUP Directive after acknowledging the significant harm that SUPs cause to the environment, human health, and the economy. The SUP Directive requires all relevant parties, including plastics manufacturers, recyclers, retailers, and consumers, to take the appropriate actions and make the necessary investments to protect the environment. The primary objective of the SUP Directive is to prevent and minimize the negative effects that some plastic products have on the environment, particularly the marine environment, as well as on human health. In an effort to combat marine litter, the Directive imposes restrictions and criteria on SUPs that fall under the purview of specific categories and items made from oxo-degradable plastic. This includes, among other things, the phase-out of unnecessary SUPs and oxodegradable plastic, the reduction of SUP consumption and the use of reusable substitutes, the adoption of marking and labelling standards, and the development of extended producer responsibility programs (EPR). Tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in conjunction with tobacco products are among the categories covered by the SUP Directive, owing to the fact that tobacco product filters containing plastic are the second most littered single-use plastic items on EU beaches. The implementation of the SUP Directive presents a unique opportunity to educate consumers about the plastic found in tobacco filters and filters marketed for use in conjunction with tobacco products.