Almost all plastics are made from fossil fuels, and plastics emit greenhouse gases at every stage of their life cycle—from the extraction of fossil fuels, transport, manufacturing, and production to waste processing and beyond.

Every year, several million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the oceans worldwide. Around 85 percent of marine litter consists of plastics. Plastic in the environment harms living creatures and habitats. It also affects human health and recreational value. The EU-wide ban on single-use plastics is just one of several steps being taken to counteract this.

Single-use packaging in particular produces too much waste. After a single use, the packaging is often not disposed of properly or is carelessly thrown away and has to be collected separately. In addition, the proportion of single-use packaging for beverages has been rising for years. It is better for the environment to reuse products rather than throwing them away immediately after use. In Germany, hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic are used just for single-use plastic bottles. Reusable bottles, on the other hand, can be reused up to 50 times.

According to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, around 320,000 disposable cups for hot drinks are used every hour in Germany. The waste balance for disposable tableware and to-go packaging amounted to more than 346,000 tons in 2017, according to a survey by the Society for Packaging Market Research.

• Since the new Packaging Act came into force on January 1, 2019, a good 50 percent more plastic packaging has been recycled. An increase in reusable packaging can save further packaging waste.
• Since January 1, 2021, an EU-wide export ban has been in place for plastic waste that is difficult to recycle because it is mixed or contaminated. There is a particularly high risk that some of this waste will end up illegally in the environment in importing countries.
• From 2022, retailers will no longer be allowed to give out lightweight plastic carrier bags to their customers.
• From 2022, a deposit will be mandatory for single-use plastic beverage bottles (up to three liters). From 2024, this will also apply to plastic bottles containing milk drinks. From 2025, single-use PET beverage bottles must contain at least 25 percent recycled plastic, known as recyclate.
• From 2023, caterers, delivery services, and restaurants will be required to offer reusable containers as an alternative to single-use containers for takeaway and delivery food and beverages. Exceptions are planned for small businesses that can fill their customers' own containers with food and beverages.

Buy fresh products without packaging. Weekly markets or zero-waste stores are ideal for this.

Reusable instead of disposable bottles: Reusable bottles (made of PET or glass) can be recognized by the reusable logo, the Blue Angel environmental label, or the fact that the deposit is usually only eight or 15 cents—unlike disposable bottles, which have a deposit of 25 cents.

Loose fruit and vegetables can alternatively be transported in a reusable fruit and vegetable net or a cloth bag – also to avoid thin plastic "shirt bags."

Misleadingly, bags made of "bioplastic" are not biodegradable in most cases. They indicate that the plastic is plant-based and should not be used for organic waste.

Use reusable cups for coffee on the go. The cups are durable and can be easily recycled. Reusable cup deposit systems offer a solution, as they are industrially washed and returned in a hygienically safe condition.

Takeaway food also often generates a lot of packaging waste. However, some restaurants already offer reusable deposit systems such as leak-proof bowls with lids. The reusable container is simply returned after the meal. Small shops and snack bars can instead allow customers to fill their own containers.

Conventional tampons, tampon applicators, and sanitary pads are largely made of non-biodegradable plastics and are thrown away after a single use. Environmentally friendly alternatives include menstrual cups, reusable pads, period underwear, or washable cloth tampons.

Pre-moistened wipes for personal and household care often contain plastics. In everyday life, we can replace them entirely with a damp, reusable household cloth.

Refill packs (for example, for detergents and soap) can help to avoid a large amount of packaging waste.

Take advantage of the waste and environmental advice service if you have any further questions. The team at the Mainz Environmental Store will be happy to advise you.