Starting August 12, 2026, restaurants and food service providers across the European Union will be prohibited from serving single-use condiment packets—such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and soy sauce—for on-premises dining. This mandate is part of the broader Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which entered into force in February 2025.
Under the new rules, establishments must transition to reusable dispensers, refillable table bottles, or other sustainable systems. The European Commission, which introduced these measures to curb the region's plastic consumption, notes that packaging currently accounts for roughly 40% of all plastic used in the EU.
Exemptions and Future Scope
There are clear boundaries to the new regulation. The ban does not apply to:
- Takeaway and Delivery: Food ordered for off-site consumption remains exempt.
- Retail: Single-use packets will continue to be available for purchase in supermarkets and other retail stores.
- Healthcare: Institutions providing medical services are exempt from these specific packaging restrictions.
This initiative is part of an ambitious target to reduce packaging waste per capita by 15% by 2040. The EU has already seen success with similar measures, reporting a 30% reduction in plastic waste on European beaches. Looking ahead, additional bans will take effect in 2030, including the phase-out of miniature toiletry bottles in the hospitality industry. The European Commission plans to conduct a full review of these measures in 2032.
