eu plastic ban tenerife bars restaurants sachets

Tenerife bars and restaurants face EU single-use plastic ban

EU crackdown on single-use sachets

The European Union is continuing to push forward with its policies aimed at reducing plastic use and moving towards a more sustainable planet. As part of this drive, it has turned its attention to items widely used in bars and restaurants: single-serve sachets of sugar, salt, ketchup, mayonnaise, condensed milk for coffee, and other products that millions of people use every day in the hospitality sector.

What the new regulation means

This measure forms part of EU Regulation 2025/40 on packaging and plastic waste. The legislation is designed to reduce the volume of plastic waste generated and encourage more sustainable alternatives that protect the environment. The regulation will come into force on 12 August in all EU member states, although some more specific restrictions on certain types of single-use plastic packaging will be phased in gradually.

Affected products include the individual sachets used daily for sugar, salt, ketchup, mayonnaise, dressings, jams, and coffee milk in the hospitality sector. Brussels intends to cut the enormous amount of waste generated by these single-use formats and promote more sustainable systems.

Sustainable alternatives for businesses

Among the alternatives are replacing sachets with refillable dispensers, reusable packaging, or other solutions that guarantee food safety and hygiene without causing a negative environmental impact. The regulation will also hit the hotel sector, as many hotels currently offer single-use sachets of shampoo, shower gel, body lotions and other courtesy products in guest rooms. These items will also gradually disappear and be replaced by new formats.

Exceptions to the rule

Despite what may seem like a radical change, the measure does include some exemptions. Single-use sachets may continue to be used in certain cases linked to food safety, such as takeaway services where meals are intended for immediate consumption and no alternative to the sachet format exists.

Tenerife hospitality sector adapts

With the introduction of this new regulation, bars and restaurants across Tenerife are already beginning to look for alternatives to these products that have accompanied breakfasts, lunches and dinners away from home for years.

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