European Parliament votes to cut single-use plastic bags

EIA welcomes the vote in the European Parliament today to adopt binding measures to cut single-use plastic bags. MEPs voted by 539 votes to 51 in favour of an 80% reduction target by 2020, a measure that will help prevent billions of plastic bags ending up in the ocean.

Plastic bags are the third most common type of litter found on European beaches, lakes and rivers. Used for just a few minutes they last for centuries in the marine environment. In 2010 more than eight billion plastic bags needlessly ended up as litter in Europe.

EIA Senior campaigner Clare Perry said: “The overwhelming support from the European Parliament for mandatory reduction measures is a good first step, however a full ban on single-use plastic bags is justified, not just in environmental terms but also economically.”

EIA is calling on European Member States to strengthen the Parliament’s proposal in the negotiations that will start after the summer under the Italian Presidency.