EU Limits Single‑Use Plastic Sauce Packs in Restaurants, Keeps Small Portions on Store Shelves

From 12 August the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) begins to apply, prohibiting food‑contact packaging that contains per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above set limits. The rule does not ban the sale of small sauce or cream portions in supermarkets.

The new restriction targets only single‑use plastic portions used in restaurants, where alternatives such as glass bottles are available. Most of the regulation’s major provisions, including broader limits on certain single‑use plastics, will take effect in 2030. The European Commission’s spokesperson said, “We do not ban small plastic portions of sauces and creams in the EU market. They will continue to be sold in supermarkets,” and added, “The new restriction applies only to restaurants, where practical alternatives exist, such as glass bottles.” The aim is to reduce plastic waste and increase the recyclability of all packaging.