What is the ‘Plastic In Product’ logo on single use products?

From July 2021, the European Commission’s Single Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) ruled that all disposable products sold and used in the EU must display a ‘Plastic in product’ logo. This is also known as the SUPD logo.

The UK is not required to bring the SUPD into UK law and is not currently planning to implement it.

The government has however implemented policies to reduce single use plastics. This includes regulation to limit the use of plastic straws and stirrers.

Which products are affected by the SUPD?

• Cotton bud sticks
• Cutlery, plates, straws, and stirrers
• Balloons and sticks for balloons
• Food containers
• Paper cups
• Plastic bags
• Packets and wrappers
• Wet wipes and sanitary items

Biodegradable and compostable products

The SUPD does not differentiate between products containing petroleum plastics or plant-based plastics, meaning that even a product which is certified and labelled as compostable will still need to display the logo.

Unfortunately this applies to even our biodegradable paper cups and biodegradable soup cups. This is because the SUPD requires such products to display a logo, even though they contain no oil-based plastics.

Manufacturers and sellers across the industry are to be affected by the regulation, including supermarkets, food and drink packaging suppliers, paper cup suppliers, and more.

For information about any product which you think may be affected, please contact us.