Portugal plans to ban plastic on fruits, vegetables and bread by 2020

Portugal this week gave the green-light to a bill to stop using plastic on fruits, vegetables and bread by 2020.

Portugal advances in banning plastic bags for fruit and bread

The Portuguese Parliament this week gave a first green light to a bill banning plastic bags and disposable polystyrene/polyfoam packaging for fruit, vegetables and bread. The bill will continue processing through the Committee on Environment, but looks set to be approved by all sides.

Portugal putting an end to single-use disposable plastic

Lisbon, 11 Apr (EFE).- This latest initiative, promoted by the green group Os Verdes and approved unanimously, will prohibit the use by commercial establishments of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 15 micrometers for the sale of fruit, vegetables and bulk bread as of June 2020. Stores will have to resort to more sustainable materials.

The bill also puts an end to the sale of products in disposable plastic packaging and polystyrene, forcing supermarkets, fruit shops and other stores to make available to the customer other alternatives to transport their purchases, made of more sustainable materials.

The commercial establishments failing to comply with this regulation may be fined, although the amount of the sanctions has yet to be defined by the Government if the initiative is definitely approved.

The regulation urges the Executive to promote awareness campaigns on the use of own non-disposable bags by consumers for their purchases.

"In the European Union, about 58 million tons of plastic are produced annually and Portugal contributes with an average of 31 kilograms per person, which is higher than the European average," says the text of Os Verdes.

Source: EFE

Portugal has already implemented several regulations aimed at reducing the use of plastic

The project will be debated and voted on in the Environment Committee and, if approved, will return to the plenary of Parliament for a final vote.*

In the current legislature, Portugal has already implemented several regulations aimed at reducing the use of plastic.

The Portuguese government announced in February that it will anticipate the goals set by the European Union and aims to prohibit the sale of disposable plastic products, such as cutlery, straws, plates or sticks, from the second half of 2020.

In fact, it has already put an end to the use of these products in the Public Administration, and there are several initiatives in Parliament to reduce the impact of this material on the environment, including one that discourages the use of microplastics in cosmetics and hygiene products.

*Note: this legislation is still making its way through due parliamentary process. It’s great news. It has support from all sides. It seems likely to pass without issue. But for now it is still pending finalisation by a governmental committee on environment. When it is passed as law for sure, BrightVibes will bring you an update. — Source: EFE

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