23 Nov 2023 --- Estonia has updated its packaging legislation, tackling the consumption of single-use plastics and incentivizing reusable materials, rather than substituting single-use plastics with other single-use materials. Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) recently published a factsheet that embraces the law, but the European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA) says plastic should be replaced with paper alternatives. In February, the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) passed the Waste Act, Packaging Act and Tobacco Act Amendment Act. The law came into effect in May of this year, except rules agreed in the EU’s Single Use Plastics Directive that will apply later or require a transition period. The law sets an overall target of reducing the consumption of single-use plastic drinking cups and food packaging in Estonia, compared to 2022, by 2026. This includes all single-use plastic drinking containers with a cap or lid that are either filled at the point of sale or sold separately for personal use. The law specifically targets containers for ready-to-eat food or food that can be eaten on-site — anything that does not require additional cooking, boiling or heating.
