Single-use plastic products and other disposable products
Q&A regarding the regulations for single-use plastics
This page provides answers to questions regarding single-use plastic regulations.
Many people deal with single-use plastics in their businesses and the support on this page will help you determine if you are covered by the regulations and in what way. The aim is to reduce the impact of plastic products on the environment.
Target group
Operators, such as manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, shops, restaurants and event organisers.
Good to know
We update this page continuously with new questions and answers.
Legislation, directives and guidance
EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive has been introduced in Sweden with the help of a series of regulations. In Sweden, the legislation is a bit broader as it also covers certain disposable products in materials other than plastic.
New regulations (only in Swedish)
Single-use Products Ordinance (2021:996)
Ordinance (2021:997) amending the Single-Use Products Regulation
Ordinance (2021:998) on producer responsibility for certain tobacco products and filters
Ordinance (2021:999) on producer responsibility for balloons
Ordinance (2021:1000) on producer responsibility for wet wipes
Ordinance (2021:1001) on producer responsibility for fishing gear
Corrections to existing regulations (only in Swedish)
On 1 January 2022, the Ordinance (2016:1041) on plastic carrier bags expired. The regulations are now mainly contained in the Ordinance (2018:1462) on producer responsibility for packaging. Information on regulations on plastic carrier bags can now be found in the guidance on packaging.
Producer responsibility for packaging (naturvardsverket.se)
Ordinance (2021:1003) amending the Ordinance (2018:1462) on producer responsibility for packaging
Ordinance (2021:1004) amending the Ordinance (2018:1462) on producer responsibility for packaging
EU directives
PM and referral response (only in Swedish)
New and amended regulations
Why does the EU directive need to be implemented through new and amended regulations?
An EU directive stipulates the result to be achieved by the member states but leaves it to each country to determine the form and procedure for implementation. Provisions in a directive may take different forms and give different degrees of room for action to countries to decide how to incorporate them.
For example, regarding the Single Use Plastics Directive, there is no obvious room for action for Member States to decide on the regulations banning certain products and on labelling requirements.
In which Swedish legislation can I find regulations regarding single-use plastics?
On 3 November 2021, the Government decided on six new regulations and amendments to several existing regulations.
Placing on the market
We have a large batch of plastic cutlery in stock. Can we sell them even though they are now banned?
It depends on whether the cutlery can be considered to have been placed on the market or not. The Single Use Plastics Directive defines placing on the market as the first making available of a product on the market in a Member State (see Article 3(p)(6)).
A ban on certain single-use plastic products applied in Sweden 1 January 2022. Plastic cutlery that is placed on the market after the ban has entered into force is subject to the requirements and may not be placed on the Swedish market.
The Commission has compiled a list of questions and answers concerning the concept of placing on the market. The document has not been adopted or approved by the European Commission and is therefore not an official position. However, it can be used as a support when assessing whether a product is placed on the market or not. The document can be found here:
Products in stock
We have a large stock of already produced wet wipes without labelling, can we continue to sell them after January 1, 2022?
It depends on whether the wet wipes in stock can be considered to have been placed on the market or not.
The Single Use Plastics Directive defines placing on the market as the first making available of a product on the market in a Member State (see Article 3(p)(6)).
Labelling requirements for certain single-use plastic products apply from 1 January 2022.
Wet wipes that are placed on the market after the requirements for labelling have entered into force, are subject to the requirements and must therefore be labelled in order to be placed on the Swedish market. Wet wipes that were placed on the Swedish market before the requirement for labelling came into force do not need to be labelled after the labelling requirements have come into force.
The Commission has compiled a list of questions and answers concerning the concept of placing on the market. The document has not been adopted or approved by the European Commission and is therefore not an official position. However, it can be used as a support when assessing whether a product is placed on the market or not. The document can be found here:
Prohibition
Which products are banned?
A list of which single-use plastic products that are banned from 1 January 2022 can be found here:
Single-use plastic products and other disposable products
A national ban is that from January 1, 2024, disposable cups containing more than 15% plastic will not be allowed in Sweden.
Are there any exceptions to the ban that single-use cups may not contain more than 15% plastic?
No, there is not. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to issue regulations on exceptions to the ban if there are special reasons and has therefore investigated what needs there may be for exceptions to the ban. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency does not consider that the need for exceptions that emerged in the study constitute such special reasons that need to exist for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to issue regulations on exceptions to the ban.
The ban applies from January 1, 2024.
Regarding to the ban on single-use plastic straws, are there any exceptions where straws count as medical devices? What can be defined as medical devices?
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency considers that disposable plastic straws used in healthcare can in some cases be considered a medical device and are therefore not covered by the ban.
Article 2 of the EU Regulation 2017/745 on medical devices specifies what is meant by a medical device. A medical device is a product that is intended to be used on humans for one or more listed medical purposes. For example, it can be treatment or relief of illness or for an injury. In assessing whether a straw can be exempted from the prohibition, it is necessary to consider the definitions in the Article.
Why are cutlery made of biodegradable plastic and plastic made from plants banned? Aren't they better for the environment?
Plastic based on renewable raw materials (such as corn and sugar cane) is better from a climate point of view than "ordinary plastic" as it usually contributes to lower climate impact than fossil-based plastic. But, regardless of whether plastic is made from renewable or fossil raw materials, there are currently no plastics that decompose completely in the natural environment for the foreseeable future. This also applies to what is known as "degradable plastic".
Plastic is a potential risk to living organisms both if it is intact or if it has partially decomposed. Plastics – regardless of the type of plastic – contain a variety of non-natural substances that in themselves can pose an environmental problem. When the plastic breaks down, these substances can spread and have a negative impact on the surrounding environment. So even if the plastic eventually breaks down, it has time to have a negative impact on the environment during the actual decomposition process. This is why some commonly used single-use products made from what are known as degradable plastics and plastics made from renewable raw materials are also banned.
How do I know if a product is a disposable food container that is banned?
According to the Ordinance on Disposable Products (2021:996), it is prohibited to place disposable food containers containing expanded polystyrene on the Swedish market.
In order for a product to be covered by the prohibition, it must:
- Contain expanded polystyrene,
- Be a single-use device, and
- Be a food container used for fast food.
A single-use plastic product is a product that:
- Consists completely or partly of plastics, and
- Which has not been designed, constructed or placed on the Swedish market to be reused several times during its life cycle by being refilled or reused for the same purpose for which it was designed.
A food container is a package, with or without a lid, that:
- Is moulded, or remains substantially unchanged in the mould after the contents are added or removed, and
- Used for fast food.
Fast food is food that:
- Is intended to be eaten directly at the point of sale or to be taken with a view to being eaten elsewhere shortly after sale,
- Is intended to be eaten out of the package, and
- Is ready to be eaten without further cooking, heating or other preparation carried out by the consumer.
If all the above points are met, it is a product that is prohibited and it may not be placed on the Swedish market.
What is covered by the expanded polystyrene ban for certain single-use plastic products?
The following disposable products containing expanded polystyrene are prohibited to place on the Swedish market:
- Beverage containers
- Disposable cups and food containers
- Corks and lids
Expanded polystyrene refers to plastic that consists of small beads of polystyrene that have been expanded so that they largely consist of voids. Frigolit is an example of expanded polystyrene.
Design and labelling
Is it allowed to sell beverage containers without attached caps/lids after July 3, 2024, that were in stock before that date?
If you are a producer, beverage containers that you provide after 3 July 2024 when the requirements come into force must be designed so that caps and lids made of plastic are attached to the container throughout use.
The expression ‘supply on the Swedish market’ applies to all sales channels and also includes the first placing on the Swedish market. It is therefore different from the concept of ‘placing on the Swedish market’, see the definitions below. This means that even the beverage containers you had in stock before July 3, 2024, but that you provide after that date, must have attached caps and lids.
Current regulations can be found in the Ordinance (2018:1462) on producer responsibility for packaging:
§ 8, which entered into force 2023-01-01:
For the purposes of this regulation, a producer means a person who by profession:
- fills or otherwise uses a non-service packaging for the purpose of protecting, presenting or facilitating the handling of a product;
- bring a packaged product into Sweden,
- manufactures packaging in Sweden,
- bring a package into Sweden, or
- from a country other than Sweden sells a packaged product or packaging to a final user in Sweden.
§ 10
Supply means making available on the Swedish market, against payment or free of charge, packaging for distribution, consumption or use on the Swedish market in connection with professional activities.
With placing on the Swedish market: to provide packaging on the Swedish market for the first time.
§ 40 c, which enters into force 2024-07-03:
A beverage container may only be made available on the Swedish market by a producer if the beverage container is designed so that caps and lids made of plastic are attached to the container throughout use.
A beverage container shall be considered to comply with the requirement if:
- it complies with the relevant criteria of harmonised standard EN 17665, or
- the producer otherwise demonstrates that the beverage container is designed so that caps and lids made of plastic are attached to the container throughout use.
The requirement does not apply to beverage containers:
- in glass or metal, or
- intended for, and used for, food for special medical purposes as defined in point (g) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Which products need to be labelled?
Labelling requirements apply to cups, wet wipes, sanitary towels, tampons and tampon applicators. Tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products shall also be labelled.
When do labelling requirements apply?
Labelling requirements for certain single-use plastic products applied 1 January 2022.
However, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 of 17 December 2020 laying down harmonised specifications for the labelling of single-use plastic products allows the marking of relevant products placed on the market before 4 July 2022 to be affixed by means of stickers. Thereafter, requirements for printed or engraved marking apply, depending on the product.
Are there rules for how the label should look and where it should be placed?
Yes, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 of 17 December 2020 laying down harmonised specifications for the labelling of single-use plastic products sets out the format of the labelling for the different product categories.
The regulation also specifies where the label should be placed. There is a transitional rule, which made it possible to label products with a sticker until July 3, 2022. Thereafter, requirements for printed or engraved marking apply depending on the product category. The regulation can be found here:
Is there a high-resolution symbol for marking?
Yes, print originals (pictograms in vectorized format) can be found here:
Is it enough if the text on the label of a cup is in English?
No, if you are going to place a cup on the Swedish market, it also needs to have the information text in Swedish.
Different types of plastic
Does viscose count as plastic, such as 100% viscose wet wipes?
According to the EU's guidance on the Single Use Plastics Directive, viscose is not covered by the plastic definition. Lyocell is also excluded.
What type of plastic will be banned and why?
The Single Use Plastics Directive prohibits products made of oxo-degradable plastics and certain products made of expanded polystyrene. The ban applied in Sweden 1 January 2022.
OXO-DEGRADABLE PLASTICS
Oxo-degradable plastic is made of the same origin as regular plastic but with the difference that it also contains certain additives that via UV light or heat speed up the degradation. However, studies have shown that oxo-degradable plastic does not break down in the natural environment, but instead breaks down into smaller pieces of plastic.
When these plastics end up in nature, they contribute to the pollution of microplastics in the environment. Oxo-degradable plastics are not compostable, have a negative impact on the recycling of other plastics and do not provide any proven benefits to the environment. Oxo-degradable plastics are therefore banned from 1 January 2022.
EXPANDERAD POLYSTYREN (EPS)
One type of plastic that is banned in some products and for certain uses is expanded polystyrene. Expanded polystyrene refers to plastics consisting of small beads of polystyrene that have been expanded so that they consist largely of voids.
Styrofoam is an example of expanded polystyrene. The ban means that beverage containers for single use containing expanded polystyrene as well as disposable food containers and cups containing expanded polystyrene may not be placed on the Swedish market.
Expanded polystyrene is a porous material that easily breaks down into smaller parts and microplastics. The littering of products containing expanded polystyrene leads to environmental problems, especially in the marine environment.
SEE INFORMATION
Some single-use plastic products are prohibited even if they are made of other types of plastic. A list of what these products are can be found here: