Comeos - the interest group of the Belgian trade and services sector - has announced that it will accelerate a ban on single-use plastic in Belgian supermarket and restaurant chains with a series of new commitments to be put in place by members.
As of December 2019, customers will no longer find any disposable plastic bags in the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket. From the beginning of next year, only compostable stickers will be allowed on fruit, according to reports.
Plastic disposable drinking cups will then disappear from restaurant chains. In the summer of 2021 plastic plates and cutlery, straws, cotton buds and polystyrene cups for hot drinks will also be removed.
By the end of 2022, plastic wrap will no longer be allowed around the supermarket's printed advertising material.
Biodegradable, compostable or recyclable alternatives must replace all listed disposable plastics, says Comeos.
Every year, 600 million disposable fruit and vegetable bags, accounting for 2,500 tonnes of plastic, came from Belgian supermarkets. The ban on plastic stickers on fruit and vegetables is intended to free the country from 120 tonnes of plastic a year.
Greenpeace - however - commented that there is still far to go.
"Comeos is a good example, but does little more than what European or regional legislation imposes", says Jeroen Verhoeven, reports De Morgen. "The first priority must be to reduce packaging.
Jules Johnston
The Brussels Times
