Evaluation of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and national implementation measures

To combat environmental pollution caused by single-use plastic products and fishing gear containing plastic, the EU adopted the Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904 in 2019. Through instruments and measures such as bans, product requirements, labelling, extended producer responsibility, separate collection and raising awareness of single-use plastic products, the aim is to achieve a measurable reduction in littering whilst supporting innovation and effective internal market conditions. While initial findings suggest declines in certain banned items, other product groups remain prevalent and there are indications of shortcomings in implementation and enforcement. Against this backdrop, both the EU-wide evaluation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive and the evaluation of national implementation instruments (including the Packaging Act, the Circular Economy Act, the Single-Use Plastics Ban Ordinance and the Single-Use Plastics Fund) are scheduled to take place by 2027.

This research project will establish the scientific foundations for evaluating the EU Directive and the German implementation measures. To this end, the effectiveness of the EU measures and the German legal framework will be analysed, regulatory and enforcement gaps identified, and robust adaptation proposals developed – including the question of whether product and measure catalogues should be further developed or expanded. Methodologically, the project combines (i) a structured collection and evaluation of market, volume and impact data (including time series, data reconciliation and a ‘no-action’ scenario analysis), (ii) legal and instrumental assessments of EU and national requirements, including reporting obligations, (iii) supplementary surveys (including consultations with authorities/federal states, market/store checks, and stakeholder surveys on the implementation of the single-use plastics fund and the DIVID platform), as well as (iv) a systematic comparison with selected Member States and the discussion of the results in specialist forums. In doing so, the research project simultaneously provides technical input for EU reporting obligations and supports the further development of effective policy approaches to reducing plastic pollution.