SUP law explained: why crockery and glassware are the solution

What is the SUP legislation?

SUP stands for Single Use Plastics. These are plastic products that you only use once and then throw away. Think of plastic straws, cups, plates, cutlery or trays you get at takeaway meals, for example. The SUP legislation is a European law that makes rules to reduce this kind of disposable plastic.

 

Since 3 July 2021, it will be illegal to sell certain disposable plastic products in Europe anymore. This applies, for example, to plastic cotton buds, straws, stirrers and balloon sticks. Plastic plates and cutlery are also banned if they are intended for single use.

 

For other products, such as plastic cups and food packaging, they are not banned per se, but you as a catering owner have to charge for them. From 1 July 2023, for example, you will have to pay extra if you buy a drink in a plastic cup at a snack bar or petrol station. Also, the seller will then have to offer you a reusable alternative, such as a cup made of glass or metal that you can use more often.

 

Information duty

Companies must also provide more information to customers on how to dispose of products. They also have to make sure litter is cleaned up more often. The SUP legislation thus ensures that we use less plastic, reuse more, and dispose of waste better.

 

In the Netherlands, this law is implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. They check whether companies comply with the rules. If they do not, they can be fined.

 

In short, the SUP law aims to ensure that we stop throwing away unnecessary plastic. In this way, we are helping the environment as well as making our surroundings cleaner.

 

Why is the SUP law in place?

Environment and animals

The SUP law is there because plastic is a big problem for the environment. Many plastic products are only used once and then thrown away. This creates a lot of waste. Often this waste ends up in nature, for example in forests, on beaches or in the sea. Animals can eat the plastic or become entangled in it. This is dangerous and can even kill animals.

 

Microplastics

Plastic breaks down very slowly. It can lie around for hundreds of years. Sometimes it falls apart into tiny pieces: microplastics. These are so small that they float in the water and can even end up in fish or drinking water. Eventually, people can also ingest these microplastics. That is bad for our health.

 

With the SUP legislation, the European Union wants to ensure less plastic waste. By reducing the use of disposable plastic, less plastic ends up in nature. The law also makes people think about more sustainable choices. For example, if you have to pay for a plastic cup, you might choose a reusable one next time.

 

Money-saving

In addition, cleaning up all that litter also costs a lot of money. Municipalities have to employ cleaners to clean up parks and streets. So if there is less plastic waste, that also saves money.

 

In short: the SUP Act is there to protect nature, save animals, keep people healthier and save money. The aim is for all of us to be more responsible in our use of plastic so that we have a cleaner and healthier world in the long run.

 

What does the SUP legislation mean for your business or organisation?

The SUP legislation requires not only awareness but, more importantly, action. Whether you run a coffee shop, manage an office or organise events - you will have to change your approach. The days of free disposable cups and snack trays are over. Since July 2023, you are obliged to offer reusable alternatives or explicitly charge for disposable products.

 

What should you do?

What does that mean in practice? You have to make clear choices: do you switch to reusable items, or choose to charge customers for disposable options? Reusable crockery or glassware is not only a sustainable choice in this respect, it also prevents a lot of administration. Especially for larger organisations, there is a registration and reporting obligation: how many cups and containers do you use, and how do you communicate this to your customers?

 

Information provision is also part of the rules. You have to actively inform customers about the impact of disposable packaging and the sustainable alternatives you offer. This can be simple: via a sign on the counter, a menu, or a message in your webshop. What matters is that you show visibly and demonstrably that you participate.

 

Avoid inconvenience

For smaller businesses, it may seem like a lot of hassle, but it actually offers opportunities. By investing in reusable cups, printed crockery or engraved glasses with your own logo, you turn a legal obligation into a smart move for your brand. You show that you take sustainability seriously, comply with the rules and avoid fines and extra administration.

 

Think of a coffee shop with stylish coffee glasses, an office with standard sustainable personalised mugs or a student union with printed beer mugs. In this way, sustainability becomes not only compulsory, but also distinctive.

 

Glass and tableware: the solution

The rules are clear: disposable is out, reuse is in. But what do you choose? Fortunately, there is a classic solution: just decent glassware and crockery. And that is not only better for the environment, but also for your wallet and your image as a brand or organisation. Another option is reusable hard plastic.

 

Reusable

Glass and tableware are in fact reusable. They last for years, can simply go into the dishwasher after use, and are therefore perfect for daily or intensive use. Where disposable cups and cardboard containers go in the bin after one use, a glass or plate can be reused hundreds of times. This saves you thousands of packages per year. This is reflected both in the waste container and on your bill.

 

No difficult SUP legislation

Moreover, with glassware and crockery, you comply with the SUP legislation in one fell swoop. You no longer have to charge customers a surcharge, you avoid wasting administrative time and you show that you are actively contributing to a more sustainable world. This is especially attractive for larger organisations: the less you work with disposables, the less you have to keep track of and report on.

 

Also professionally

But it goes beyond practicality. The appearance of glass and crockery is simply better. A cappuccino in a real glass feels luxurious, a lunch on a real plate looks neat. It makes your customer experience more professional - whether you run a catering business, manage a company canteen or organise a student party. Moreover, you can use printed crockery or engraved glasses as a brand carrier: your logo on every coffee mug, water glass or breakfast plate.

 

Long-term vision

And then there are the costs: yes, glass and tableware are more expensive to buy than disposable cups. But in the long run, you save a lot. One glass you use 100 times is many times cheaper than 100 disposable cups. And if you choose sturdy quality (such as catering-grade glassware), they will last much longer.

 

In short: glass and crockery are not just an alternative to disposable cups they are an upgrade. More durable, more beautiful, more professional and smarter. In doing so, you change SUP legislation from an obligation to an opportunity. And let that be exactly what smart entrepreneurs capitalise on.

 

Practical examples

Glassware and tableware are more versatile than you might think. Whether you work in the hospitality industry, sit in an office or organise an event: reusable products actually fit everywhere. And more and more organisations are showing that it really works.

 

Catering and coffee shops

A cappuccino simply tastes better in a real glass. More and more coffee shops therefore choose glassware with their own logo engraved or printed on it. Not only does this look professional, it is also a smart way to let your brand speak for itself with every order. No more cardboard cups, no extra charge for the customer. Just plain and durable.

 

Offices and company restaurants

In the office, disposable is out of date anyway. Companies are switching en masse to personalised mugs or crockery with the company logo. It looks nice in the canteen, saves waste and avoids you having to order new plastic cups or plates all the time. For internal use, it is the ideal solution: buy once, enjoy for years. An example of this are the mugs from HORNBACH.

 

Events and festivals

At festivals and sports events, too, you increasingly see deposit systems with reusable glasses or hardcups. Organisations choose sturdy reusable cups suitable for several rounds. No mountain of waste at the end of the evening and it looks a lot better than a field full of discarded cups.

 

Student associations

From beer glasses with logo to coffee mugs for during studies. Student associations are increasingly going for reusable. It is practical, sustainable and reinforces the club identity. Printed beer glasses are a real classic, and also a nice gift for new members or during an anniversary.

 

Summarized

SUP legislation does away with disposable plastic. Companies are obliged to both inform customers and offer sustainable alternatives, such as reusable glassware and crockery. This is not only better for the environment, but also more economical and professional. Whether you are active in the catering industry, in the office, at events or within a student association - with glass and crockery you effortlessly comply with the rules and give your brand a sustainable image. What first seemed like an obligation turns out to be an opportunity in practice.

 

Do you also want to respond smartly to SUP legislation? Get your glasses printed and discover reusable tableware solutions: stylishly printed or engraved with your logo. Feel free to request a quote and a free digital proof or order right away!