EU bans single-use condiment packets in restaurants and cafés

The European Union will prohibit single‑use plastic sachets for condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, soy sauce and similar items in restaurants, cafés and hotels starting 12 August 2026. Under the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, establishments must replace these sachets with larger dispensers, reusable containers or other eco‑friendly alternatives, and they must allow customers to bring their own containers at no extra charge.

The measure aims to curb the roughly 40 % of EU plastic consumption that ends up in packaging, which accounts for about half of the region’s waste. The Commission says its goal is that “by 2030 all packaging on the EU market should be recyclable in an economically viable way” and that plastic use should be sharply reduced as part of the EU’s climate‑neutrality plan for 2050. A full ban on mini‑portion packs is planned for 2030, with the effectiveness of the 2026 ban to be evaluated in 2032. Hospitality operators have warned of higher costs and practical challenges, especially for small independent businesses.