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Dutch ditch disposable coffee cups in the office: banned from 2023!

3 min read

Sustainable Planet
Source: Unsplash/Agenlaku Indonesia

The Netherlands is banning plastic and other non-reusable coffee cups in offices from 2023 as part of measures the outgoing Secretary of State hopes will lead to a 40% reduction in the use of disposable plastic goods by 2026.

Bring your own mug: Disposable coffee cups in Dutch offices banned from 2023

From 2023, coffee and tea in the office may no longer be supped from disposable cups, but only from old-fashioned, regular,  reusable, washable cups and mugs. Also, from 2024, plastic packaging to take ready-to-eat food with you may no longer be free. That is what outgoing State Secretary Steven van Weyenberg has written in a letter to the Dutch parliament.

Earlier European agreements were made that the use of single-use plastic must be drastically reduced by 2026. Member States may decide for themselves how they supplement this. With these measures, Van Weyenberg expects a 40% decrease in 2026 compared to 2022.
Every day 19 million disposable drinking cups and food packaging items are used and thrown away in the Netherlands — 7 billion pieces per year. Earlier European agreements were made that the use of single-use plastic must be drastically reduced by 2026. Member States may decide for themselves how they supplement this. With these measures, Van Weyenberg expects a 40% decrease in 2026 compared to 2022. Source: Unsplash/Jasmin Sessler

Own mug at the office in the Netherlands: disposable cups no longer allowed from 2023

These are the plans of the Netherlands’ outgoing Secretary of State, Steven van Weyenberg, written in a letter to the Dutch parliament. The plans are still being submitted for internet consultation.

Van Weyenberg prescribes that office workers start drinking from coffee and tea cups again, because they can be washed off. In offices where this is not possible, at least three quarters of the disposable cups must be collected for high-quality recycling. In 2026, that percentage will be 90%.

Bars that sell coffee for the road must also offer a reusable alternative. For example, they can set up a return system, or let consumers bring their own cup or container. By 2024, three quarters of the material must be recyclable. In 2027 this should even be 90%.

Coffee cups are now difficult to recycle, because they usually consist of cardboard with a layer of plastic. They therefore often end up in the incinerator or in the litter.

Source: DeTelegraaf.nl 

Tthis type of packaging is often difficult to recycle, so that much of the material is ultimately not recycled but incinerated. This causes additional CO2 emissions. Some of the disposable plastic also ends up on the street as litter.
Although disposable coffee cups in the office sometimes look like paper, they can contain a layer of plastic to hold hot drinks like tea and coffee. Tthis type of packaging is often difficult to recycle, so that much of the material is ultimately not recycled but incinerated. This causes additional CO2 emissions. Some of the disposable plastic also ends up on the street as litter. Source: Unsplash/Nico Ismaili

Salad Meals are another target of the single-use plastic ban

Van Weyenberg also wants a ban on plastic packaging for ready meals such as pre-packed salads from 2024. These must then be packed in reusable material. Otherwise, the customer will have to pay extra for it.

In the Netherlands, some 19 million disposable drinking cups and food packaging items are thrown away every day, wrote Van Weyenberg. He hopes to reduce this number by 40% by 2026 compared to 2022 with these measures.

Source: DeTelegraaf.nl 

For consumption on the road, for example at a coffee shop, a reusable alternative must be offered. These businesses can do this in the form of a return system, or by letting consumers bring their own cup or container.
Coffee and tea cups can be washed. For consumption on the road, for example at a coffee shop, a reusable alternative must be offered. These businesses can do this in the form of a return system, or by letting consumers bring their own cup or container. Source: Unsplash/John Schnobrich
Since 1 July – in addition to a deposit on large plastic bottles – there is also a deposit on small plastic bottles. From 2022, a deposit on cans will be added. Both measures are intended to reduce litter. Every year, about 150 million of the 2 billion used cans end up on the street in the Netherlands.
However you prefer your coffee, you’ll be drinking it out of a proper cup from 2023 onwards. Since 1 July – in addition to a deposit on large plastic bottles – there is also a deposit on small plastic bottles. From 2022, a deposit on cans will be added. Both measures are intended to reduce litter. Every year, about 150 million of the 2 billion used cans end up on the street in the Netherlands. Source: Unsplash/Nathan Dumlao
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