EU bans single‑use packaging in cafés, restaurants and hotels from 2026

From August 2026 the European Union will prohibit single‑use packaging such as sugar packets, ketchup sachets, mini shampoo bottles and other disposable containers in cafés, restaurants and hotels, with full implementation expected by 2030. The measure aims to cut the average EU citizen’s annual packaging waste of about 180 kg and reduce the roughly 16 million tonnes of plastic waste produced each year.

Businesses will have to replace individual packets with shared dispensers and eliminate small plastic containers for sauces, condiments and personal‑care items, although exemptions remain for coffee‑to‑go and other immediate‑consumption products. EU parliamentarian Biljana Borzan said the ban extends successful practices from Western and Northern Europe to Southern and Eastern members. Croatian café owner Slaven Juko and restaurateur Marin Medak warned of adaptation challenges, especially for food‑delivery services, but noted that many establishments are already moving away from disposable plastics.