The European Commission launched the Single-Use Plastics Directive in 2018. The directive, which originates from the Commission’s Plastic Strategy, focuses on reducing marine litter. Certain nonwovens products, namely feminine hygiene products and wet wipes, have been included under the Single-Use Plastics Directive.The nonwovens industry as a whole are collaborating as much as possible with the European Commission to achieve their sustainability goals and to ensure a harmonised interpretation of the measures.

Measures include :

A ban on selected single-use products made of plastic for which alternatives exist on the market: cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, sticks for balloons, as well as cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene and on all products made of oxo-degradable plastic.

Measures to reduce consumption of food containers and beverage cups made of plastic and specific marking and labelling of certain products.

Extended Producer Responsibility schemes covering the cost to clean-up litter,

A 90% separate collection target for plastic bottles by 2029 (77% by 2025) and the introduction of design requirements to connect caps to bottles, as well as target to incorporate 25% of recycled plastic in PET bottles as from 2025 and 30% in all plastic bottles as from 2030.”

What does the Single-Use Plastics Directive mean for the nonwovens industry?

Certain nonwovens products fall under the scope of the Single-Use Plastics Directive. Clear labelling and awareness raising to show the consumer how to properly dispose of single-use products is paramount in this collaboration.

The products in scope are:

Feminine hygiene products which are defined as sanitary towels (pads) and tampons and tampon applicators

Wet wipes which are defined as pre-wetted personal care and domestic wipes. Industrial wet wipes are excluded.

The industry are working with the Commission to ensure a EU harmonised interpretation of the following requirements:

Marking requirements for the feminine hygiene products and wet wipes

On their packaging or on the product itself should according to a defined format appear:

The appropriate waste management options for the product or waste disposal means to be avoided for that product in line with the waste hierarchy

The presence of plastics in the product and the resulting negative environmental impacts of littering or other inappropriate waste disposal of the products.

EPR (Extended Producers responsibility) for the wet wipes

Costs to be covered:

the costs of the awareness raising measures referred to in Article 10 regarding those products;

the costs to clean up litter of those products and its subsequent transport and treatment.

the costs of data gathering and reporting in accordance with Article 8a(1)(c) of Directive 2008/98/EC.”

Member States will have to translate this into :

Awareness raising measures for the feminine hygiene products and wet wipes

Aim: “measures to inform consumers and to incentive responsible consumer behaviour, in order to achieve a reduction in the littering of products”.

Inform consumers about:

the availability of reusable alternatives, re-use systems and waste management options, as well as best practices in sound waste management;

the impact of littering and other inappropriate waste disposal on the environment, and in particular on the marine environment;

the impact on the sewer network of inappropriate waste disposal.