PET and PP cups are not banned in the EU, UK or US; expanded polystyrene cups are. That does not mean nothing applies: plastic cups carry marking, producer-responsibility and reuse obligations that differ by market, and the Netherlands already bars them for drinks consumed on the premises. This page sets out those rules for cold plastic cups and their lids, for buyers of custom printed plastic cups. It is a summary, not legal advice: obligations depend on your role, and you should confirm them with the competent authority or your compliance scheme. The paper cup equivalent is paper cup regulations; this page applies the same framework to plastic and does not repeat that guide's paper-specific points.
Are single-use plastic cups banned in the EU?
No. The EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904 bans expanded polystyrene beverage cups, including covers and lids, since 3 July 2021, but it does not ban PET or PP cups. For those it requires marking, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and national measures to reduce consumption.
What applies to a PET or PP cup:
- Consumption reduction: Member States must reduce consumption of single-use plastic beverage cups, which is why national reuse and on-site rules exist
- Marking: cups made wholly of plastic must carry the "MADE OF PLASTIC" marking defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 (cups made partly of plastic carry "PLASTIC IN PRODUCT"), in the official language of the Member State where the cup is placed on the market
- EPR: producers of beverage cups, with their covers and lids, pay for collection and litter clean-up under national schemes
- Oxo-degradable plastics are banned, so cups cannot rely on oxo-degradable additives
Annex IV of the Regulation sets the details. A cup made wholly of plastic may carry the marking printed or engraved/embossed; a cup made partly of plastic must carry it printed. It sits horizontally on the outer wall, away from the rim and not under the base, with a minimum size of 1.4 x 2.8 cm for cups under 500 ml and 1.6 x 3.2 cm from 500 ml. The marking specification covers the cup; it sets no separate marking for lids. Language versions per country are an artwork decision, explained for cups in general in paper cup regulations; artwork for plastic cups is in printing on plastic cups.
What does the PPWR change for plastic cups?
Regulation (EU) 2025/40, the PPWR, applies from 12 August 2026 and adds reuse duties for takeaway outlets, recycled-content targets and recyclability grades that apply to plastic cups from 2027 to 2030.
| PPWR provision | Date | Effect on plastic cups |
|---|---|---|
| Article 32: accept customers' own containers | From 12 February 2027 | Takeaway outlets fill customers' own cups at no higher price |
| Article 33: offer a reusable option | From 12 February 2028 | Reusable option at no higher price; micro-enterprises exempt |
| Reuse target | From 2030 | Takeaway outlets to endeavour to sell 10 % in reusable packaging |
| Recycled content | From 1 January 2030 at the earliest | 30 % for contact-sensitive PET packaging; 10 % for other contact-sensitive plastics; 50 % and 25 % from 2040 |
| Recyclability grades | From 1 January 2030 | Packaging must be grade A, B or C; fees modulated by grade |
| Annex V restriction | From 1 January 2030 | Restricts single-use plastic packaging for food and drink filled and consumed on HORECA premises |
| Article 5(5): PFAS in food-contact packaging | From 12 August 2026 | Applies to the whole cup including inks and coatings |
Annex V is the provision to watch for eat-in drinks: from 1 January 2030, single-use plastic cups for drinks filled and consumed on HORECA premises are among the packaging types it restricts, so eat-in service is expected to move to reusables. The exact scope and exemptions should be checked against the Regulation and Commission guidance. For detail see PPWR explained, PPWR recyclability grades and PPWR labelling requirements.
Germany: is there a plastic cup ban, and what is the Einwegkunststofffonds?
Germany does not ban plastic cups but requires takeaway outlets to offer a reusable alternative and charges a levy on single-use plastic cups. The Mehrwegangebotspflicht has applied since 1 January 2023 and the Einwegkunststofffonds levy since 2025.
- Mehrwegangebotspflicht (Mehrwegpflicht): takeaway outlets that fill single-use plastic food packaging or single-use beverage cups of any material must offer a reusable alternative at no higher price. Outlets with up to five employees and up to 80 m² of sales area are exempt but must fill customers' own containers. Provisions now sit in §§ 60 and 61 VerpackDG; check current references with your adviser
- Einwegkunststofffondsgesetz: producers register on DIVID (since 1 January 2024) and pay a levy per kilogram based on the whole product's weight. The rate for beverage cups is €1.236 per kilogram under the EWKFondsV; Anlage 1 No. 4 of the Einwegkunststofffondsgesetz defines the category as beverage cups including their closures and lids, so lids are reported in the cup category; check reporting details with DIVID guidance. The levy is paid by whoever first places the cups on the German market, usually the importer
- VerpackDG and LUCID: replaced the VerpackG from 12 August 2026. Registration in LUCID is mandatory and cannot be delegated. For service packaging, according to the ZSVR, a business buying cups printed with its own name, logo or brand is the producer and licenses them itself; pre-licensing by an upstream supplier remains only in narrow cases
For a full explanation see packaging compliance in Germany and Austria. Austria: the same EU marking applies, and the existing Verpackungsverordnung 2014 licensing system continues while the PPWR is implemented nationally.
Netherlands: the on-site ban for plastic cups
The Netherlands is the strictest of the main markets: single-use cups containing plastic may not be used for drinks consumed on the premises since 1 January 2024. This applies to PET and PP cups as well as PE-lined paper cups.
- Exception: a limited exception applies where cups and containers are collected separately for recycling (85 % collection rate, rising to 90 % from 2027); since 2026 it is limited to settings such as events and attractions
- To-go: outlets must offer a reusable option or accept customers' own cups. The surcharge for single-use plastic items introduced on 1 July 2023 is not being enforced in 2026 and, according to a December 2025 letter to Parliament, is due to be abolished from 1 January 2027. The amending decree was not found as of October 2026, so confirm before planning around it
- EPR runs through Verpact (formerly Afvalfonds Verpakkingen); the 50,000 kg per year reporting threshold does not apply to single-use plastic products
- Marking: Dutch-language SUP marking on to-go cups
More in Netherlands packaging compliance.
UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Great Britain has no ban on PET or PP cups and does not use the EU marking, but plastic cups fall under packaging EPR and the Plastic Packaging Tax. England bans expanded polystyrene food and drink containers including cups from 1 October 2023; Scotland and Wales have their own bans.
- pEPR: the UK importer or brand owner, not a non-UK manufacturer, is the producer; fees apply to businesses over £2m turnover and 50 tonnes of packaging, and are administered by PackUK. Plastic cups are reported under plastic categories
- Plastic Packaging Tax: £228.82 per tonne from 1 April 2026 on plastic packaging with less than 30 % recycled plastic; manufacturers and importers handling 10 tonnes a year or more must register, filled or unfilled. Plastic cups and lids are plastic packaging, so rPET content is the main way to reduce exposure
- England: counter-filled bowls, trays and plates are classed as packaging and exempt from the plastics ban; the EPS cup ban remains
- Northern Ireland follows many EU rules under the Windsor Framework, so check its position separately
United States: federal, state and city rules
There is no federal US ban on plastic cups or EU-style marking. Cup buyers meet FDA food-contact requirements, state and local rules on expanded polystyrene foam foodservice items and straws, packaging EPR laws and claims rules. The patchwork changes often, so check each state and city where you operate.
- FDA: plastic food-contact materials must be authorised under 21 CFR 174-178 or otherwise cleared
- State packaging EPR laws (California SB 54, Oregon, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Maryland, Washington): the producer is typically the brand owner or the importer if the brand has no US presence; the PRO in most states is Circular Action Alliance
- Claims: the FTC Green Guides apply to "recyclable" claims; California SB 343 enforcement has been enjoined since 14 July 2026; AB 1201 restricts "compostable" labels on PLA cups, with its USDA organic-input requirement extended by CalRecycle to 30 June 2027 for products containing synthetic substances
- Imports: tariff rates on Turkish goods have changed repeatedly since 2025; check the USITC tariff database or a customs broker at the time of order
For detail see US foodservice packaging regulations.
Plastic cup rules by market
| Market | PET/PP cups banned? | Marking | Levy or EPR | Reuse or on-site rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | No (EPS banned) | "MADE OF PLASTIC", local language | National EPR, PPWR | PPWR Art 32 and 33 from 2027 and 2028; Annex V 2030 |
| Germany | No | German marking | Einwegkunststofffonds €1.236/kg; VerpackDG/LUCID | Mehrwegangebotspflicht since 2023 |
| Austria | No | German marking | Verpackungsverordnung licensing | PPWR duties; national implementation pending |
| Netherlands | On-site use banned since 2024 | Dutch marking | Verpact | Reusable or own cup for to-go |
| UK | No (EPS banned) | None (EU marking not used in GB) | pEPR; PPT under 30 % recycled | No national reuse mandate |
| US | No federal ban | None | State EPR laws | State and local foam and straw rules |
Compliance checklist before ordering
- List selling countries and marking language per country
- Identify who is the importer or first placer in each market, and who pays EPR and Einwegkunststofffonds
- Collect weights per cup size and lid material for reporting
- Decide whether eat-in service needs a reusable option: reusable plastic cups
- Check recycled-content options for UK PPT and PPWR: PET vs PP cups
- Request the food-contact declaration of compliance with the quotation
Send market list and cup range through /contact/; documents for a specific order are confirmed at quotation and technical review.
For the wider picture of single-use plastics and food-contact duties, see the food contact packaging compliance guide.