New Year's Resolution - plastic bags;

Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development has confirmed that, from 31 December 2018, no disposable plastic bag of a thickness of 15 microns or more can legally be made available free-of-charge at retail outlets throughout the Grand Duchy.

On the other hand, "very light plastic bags" - i.e. less than 15 microns thick - are excluded from this provision, but only if they are necessary for hygiene purposes, or used as a primary packaging for bulk food when it helps to prevent food waste (pre-packaged products, vacuum bags, etc.).

This measure is part of the government's policy to reduce single-use plastics. The goal is to encourage consumers to use reusable bags to protect our environment, our waters and our climate. Additional measures will be taken during the new legislative period of the government.

In case of non-compliance with these obligations, an administrative fine may be imposed on the person responsible for packaging. These provisions are detailed in the law of 21 March 2017 on packaging and packaging waste.

Good practices
Here are some recommendations for good practice when shopping:
1. Do your shopping if possible without using a plastic bag or other extra packaging.
2. If you need a bag, consider packing your multi-purpose bag: cloth bags, baskets, trolleys, backpacks, etc.
3. If a disposable bag is unavoidable, choose a paper bag, but make sure it is recycled later. In fact, paper bags have a greater environmental impact than lightweight plastic bags if they are not recycled responsibly!

For any information regarding this new regulation, contact the Environmental Administration at tel: 405656-1.