EU Bans Single-Use Plastics: A Step Towards Sustainable Coffee

Currently, the environment is severely damaged by human manufacturing activities. Parallel to the rapid development of the service industry, the amount of waste, especially plastic waste, is increasing rapidly.

Many restaurants and cafes have a habit of using single-use plastics (cups, plates, utensils, plastic containers, etc.). Single-use plastics are convenient, quick, neat, visually appealing, and inexpensive. However, this practice is putting pressure on nature, and even on health. Plastic waste contains many hazards to the environment and human health.

The impact of single-use plastics on the environment:

– Due to their non-biodegradable nature, even when collected and buried in the soil, they persist for hundreds of years, altering the physical properties of the soil and causing soil pollution. This leads to hindering plant growth and impacting agricultural yields, hindering the growth of crops.

– In particular, improper disposal methods, such as burning plastics that don’t meet standards, pose a risk of air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, and negatively affect human and animal life if not handled correctly.

Health impacts of plastic

– Plastic waste, when released into the environment or buried, breaks down over time into various-sized plastic particles such as microplastics, nanoparticles, picoparticles, etc. These plastic fragments infiltrate the soil, environment, and air, posing a threat to the health of marine life and humans who consume them.

– Incinerating certain types of plastic waste releases toxic gases, including dioxins and furans, which significantly affect endocrine glands, weaken the immune system, and can even lead to cancer.

– Some types of nylon bags may contain sulfur, pure petroleum, etc. When improperly burned, they produce sulfuric acid, contributing to acid rain, which is extremely hazardous to human health and wildlife.

– Currently, many low-quality plastic products are produced in large quantities, generating harmful substances like BPA. BPA is a toxic compound associated with various dangerous health conditions in humans, including infertility, diabetes, and even cancer.

EU negotiators have reached a consensus on a draft proposal to ban single-use plastic in restaurants and cafes, aiming to reduce packaging waste by 5% by 2030, c10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040.

This law also applies to fresh fruits and vegetables, individual packaging of products like spices and sugar, as well as small personal hygiene items and plastic wraps for luggage at airports.

Frederique Ries, a legislator, calls on all industries, EU member states, and consumers to join the fight against excessive packaging. To achieve climate goals, beverage and food establishments are also required to “encourage” to provide 10% of products in reusable packaging by 2030 while allowing consumers to choose their containers.

Moreover, the EU has issued a ban on “persistent chemicals” in food-contact packaging to prevent various health risks, including different types of cancer. This significant agreement will become law after approval from EU member countries and the EU Parliament.

Businesses and service providers adhering to these regulations will be a victory for consumer health.

Although harmful to the environment, plastic is an efficient material for preserving coffee. Compared to jute or canvas, which have been used for centuries, plastic minimizes coffee bean exposure to air during transportation. This helps prolong the shelf life of coffee, preventing mold growth and preserving its inherent, enticing flavor. Even plastic packaging made from biodegradable materials is not environmentally friendly if used only once. The proposed solution to mitigate environmental impact while ensuring coffee quality involves using recycled plastic bags – specifically, GrainPro plastic bags. This eco-friendly recycling project is a collaboration between Neumann Gruppe USA and GrainPro.

Collection stations for used packaging will be established at Continental Terminals, allowing buyers of green coffee beans to easily bring their used packaging for recycling. Participants only need to send an email to sustainent@grainpro.com to inform and confirm their participation. Subsequently, they can bring the used plastic bags to Continental Terminals locations in Keasbey, NJ, or Alameda, California, either through shipping services or in person. The collected plastic bags will be sent to specialized processing facilities for recycling.

Embracing the ethos of sustainable development, XLIII Coffee has adopted GrainPro bags to preserve its coffee while avoiding the use of single-use plastic at any stage in the store.

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