Plastic bags ban in Austria
All information about the plastic bag ban in Austria
In 2020, the ban on plastic bags came into effect throughout Austria. Very lightweight, biodegradable plastic carrier bags are exempt from the ban. You can easily purchase our solution via our webshop: NaKu lightweight carrier bag.
Explanations
Since January 1, 2020, the placing on the market of plastic carrier bags has been prohibited. " Placing on the market " can be understood as the commercial transfer to a legal entity within Austria. Distance selling, i.e., telephone or electronic transactions, is also affected. Transfer to a private individual is not subject to the prohibition. A transitional period until December 31, 2020, applied to bags that had already been ordered or were in stock.
What are plastic carrier bags?
Plastic carrier bags are defined as carrier bags with a handle or handle hole made of plastic. Garbage bags, freezer bags, dog waste bags, or liner bags for organic waste boxes are therefore not affected by the ban.
Who is affected?
The ban applies in general to all areas of trade, i.e. from supermarkets to fashion shops to kebab and sausage stands. Private households are not affected.
What exceptions are there?
All plastic carrier bags are prohibited, except :
- very light plastic carrier bags, i.e. those with a wall thickness of less than 0,015 mm, which are made from at least 50% renewable raw materials and are suitable for home composting, and reusable bags (reusable bags) made of plastic fabric or comparable material with a plastic content, which have sewn connections and carrying handles or Have connections and carrying handles with comparable stability.
The term " home composting" refers to the use and maintenance of a facility for converting biogenic waste into humus-like materials (compost) within households. The underlying standard is the TÜV standard "OK compost HOME". A corresponding EN standard has already been commissioned.
The " reusability " of a carrier bag refers to its original intended use.
Bio-based plastic carrier bags
The exception of very light plastic carrier bags is intended to ensure hygiene requirements in the fresh food sector of food retail (e.g. for fruit, vegetables, meat, fish). NaKu manufactures plastic bags based on corn starch. With a reduced wall thickness according to the specifications, these bags are still allowed in the trade. Not only are they biodegradable, they can also be used after purchase to keep food fresh. This has been proven to keep food fresher for longer. If a NaKu bag is no longer needed, it can be sent to the plastic collection. This means it can be included in the recycling process and old can be made new again.
Reports of plastic bags placed on the market
Once a year, the number of plastic carrier bags placed on the market must be reported to the collection and recycling system for household packaging. Very light (wall thickness less than 0,015 mm) and light plastic carrier bags (wall thickness from 0,015 mm) are to be listed separately. The report must be submitted by March 15 of the following year.
Situation in Europe
Italy was the first European country to introduce a cross-industry ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags. Since January 1, 2011, only bags made of compostable bioplastics are allowed here.
Since July 1, 2016, plastic bags with a wall thickness of less than 0,05 mm have also been banned in France. Here, too, bio-based, compostable bags are the exception.
Other countries, such as Ireland, Great Britain and Denmark, rely on additional levies on plastic bags. The introduction of such a tax in 2002 led to a reduction in plastic bag consumption of around 90% in Ireland.
Single-use plastic ban from 2021
In 2021, the EU banned single-use plastic products. This ban was agreed upon by the EU Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on May 21st and came into force on January 1st, 2021. The banned products include cotton swabs, straws, cutlery, plates, beverage containers, and food packaging. Natural polymers are exempt.
In addition, collection targets for plastic bottles have been set: 2025% of bottles should be collected by 77 and 2029% by 90. In Austria, the collection rate has so far been 73%.
In addition, a content of recycled material in plastic bottles of 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030 has been set.
NaKu recommends...
Since private households are not affected by the ban, we recommend that private customers in particular continue to use NaKu bags. Thanks to their freshness function, the amount of food thrown away can be reduced and food waste can be counteracted. This saves resources and protects the environment.
Business customers who continue to prefer our products to others are also helping to curb the use of fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions.
Do you need fruit bags, freezer bags or liner bags made from renewable raw materials? Contact us at office@naku.at or browse our webshop directly.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about the Austrian plastic bag ban
When did the plastic bag ban come into force in Austria?
The ban came into effect on January 1, 2020 , and prohibited the sale of plastic carrier bags. A transition period until the end of 2020 was granted for bags that had already been ordered or stored.
What are the exceptions to the ban?
Excluded are very lightweight plastic carrier bags (less than 0,015 mm wall thickness) that consist of at least 50% renewable raw materials and are compostable, as well as reusable bags made of woven plastic.
What is NaKu's position regarding the ban?
NaKu bags , which are based on cornstarch , meet the requirements of the exemption and may therefore continue to be used in retail. They also help keep food fresh and are compostable according to DIN 13432.
