Single use plastic cups & EU DIRECTIVE
Starting from July of 2019 single-use plastic (SUP) directive is enforced by the European Parliament which ensures that certain single-use plastic products bear a marking on the packaging or product itself. Although the final deadline for ensuring this directive was 3 July 2021 many countries haven’t enforced it due to the late specifications by the commission. Still many requirements should already be enforced such as marking single use plastic products with print.
Single-use plastic products with restrictions
Certain products will have some restrictions when placed on the market. Single-use plastic products with restrictions:
- beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, including their caps and lids;
- cups for beverages made of expanded polystyrene, including their covers and lids;
- food containers made of expanded polystyrene;
- cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks);
- plates;
- straws and beverage stirrers;
- balloon and cotton bud sticks;
- all oxo-degradable plastic products (including some courier and plastic bags).
Marking requirements
Starting from 3 July 2021 marking requirements are to be filled for:
- cups for beverages;
- tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products;
- wet wipes, i.e. pre-wetted personal care and domestic wipes
- sanitary towels (pads), tampons and tampon applicators
Before 4 July 2022 products can be marked with a corresponding sticker.
Marking of drinking cups
Marking requirements for product that is made partly from plastic:
Marking location
a) Traditional cups
Proper marking should be horizontally on the outside of the cup away from the rim to avoid contact with lips while drinking. Furthermore the icon cannot be located on the bottom of the cup.
b) Champagne glass type cups
Marking should be placed horizontally on the outside of the cup including the upper side of the bottom part. Furthermore it should be located away from the rim to avoid contact with lips while drinking, but cannot be located on the bottom of the cup. If the marking cannot be placed due to the shape or size of the cup, it can be rotated 90° and placed vertically. In addition different boxes are a part of the marking and should not be separated.
Marking measurements
Marking consists of two boxes (red and blue) that are side by side and is surrounded by a black rectangle shaped box which is located right under two boxes and includes the text “PLASTIC IN PRODUCT”. Therefore the height to width ratio should be 1:2. The minimum size of marking should be 1,4 cm x 2,8 cm (3,92 cm²) for cups with a capacity less than 500ml. Cups with a capacity of 500ml or more should have a marking with minimum size of 1,6 cm x 3,2 cm (5,12 cm²).
Marking design
Marking design must be reproduced without adding any effects, adjusting colors, retouched or changing the size of icon background. If the marking is printed it needs to have a resolution of 300 dpi. Furthermore the icon needs to have a thin white line outside of it. Secondly the text “PLASTIC IN PRODUCT” hast to be in all capital letters and font used is Helvetica Bold. Font size needs to be at least 5 pt for a capacity under 500 ml cups and at least 6 pt for cups with a capacity of 500ml or more.
When the text is translated into a second official or non-official language, the translated text needs to be placed right under the first marking or in a black rectangular box under the first marking. Either way the information has to be clearly visible. If there is no room to place information in a second language as an exception it is allowed to place the text on another part of the cup which is as close to the original marking as possible and clearly visible. Translated text has to be in capital letters and font should be Helvetica Bold. Font size needs to be at least 5 pt for a capacity under 500 ml cups and at least 6 pt for cups with a capacity of 500ml or more. If the information in second language is placed in a black rectangle it is allowed to make an exception for its size.
Color codes
Following colors are used to print the markings:
- white C = 0/M = 0/Y = 0/K = 0
- black C = 0/M = 0/Y = 0/K = 100
- red C = 0/M = 90/Y = 60/K = 0
- blue C = 60/M = 0/Y = 0/K = 0
Marking requirements for product that is made wholly from plastic:
Marking placement
a) Traditional cups
Marking should be horizontally on the outside of the cup away from the rim to avoid contact with lips while drinking. It cannot be located on the bottom of the cup and should not be engraved or pressed on a rippled cup.
b) Champagne glass type cups
Marking should be placed horizontally on the outside of the cup including the upper side of the bottom part. It should be located away from the rim to avoid contact with lips while drinking. Icon cannot be located on the bottom of the cup. The marking should not be engraved or pressed on a rippled cup. If the marking cannot be placed due to the shape or size of the cup, it can be rotated 90° and placed vertically.
Marking measurements
Marking height to width ratio should be 1:2. The minimum size of marking should be 1,4 cm x 2,8 cm (3,92 cm²) for cups with a capacity less than 500ml. Cups with a capacity of 500ml or more should have a marking with minimum size of 1,6 cm x 3,2 cm (5,12 cm²).
Marking design
a) Printed
Marking design must be reproduced without adding any effects, adjusting colors, retouched or changing the size of icon background. If the marking is printed it needs to have a resolution of 300 dpi. Marking should have a good contrast with the background to be clearly visible. Thus one of the following colors should be used as an outline:
- white C = 0/M = 0/Y = 0/K = 0
- black C = 0/M = 0/Y = 0/K = 100
- red C = 0/M = 90/Y = 60/K = 0
- blue C = 60/M = 0/Y = 0/K = 0
b) Engraved/pressed
Marking design must be reproduced without adding any effects, adjusting colors, retouched or changing the size of icon background. The text “PLASTIC IN PRODUCT” has to be in all capital letters and font used is Helvetica Bold. Font size needs to be at least 5 pt for a capacity under 500 ml cups and at least 6 pt for cups with a capacity of 500ml or more.
If the text is translated into a second official or non-official language, the translated text needs to be placed right under the first marking or in a black rectangular box under the first marking. Either way the information has to be clearly visible. If there is no room to place information in a second language as an exception it is allowed to place the text on another part of the cup which is as close to the original marking as possible and clearly visible. Translated text has to be in capital letters and font should be Helvetica Bold. Font size needs to be at least 5 pt for a capacity under 500 ml cups and at least 6 pt for cups with a capacity of 500ml or more. If the information in second language is placed in a black rectangle it is allowed to make an exception for its size.
Color codes
Following colors are used to print the markings:
- white C = 0/M = 0/Y = 0/K = 0
- black C = 0/M = 0/Y = 0/K = 100
For more information see Marking specifications for single-use plastic products on European Commission website.
