Switzerland has no intention of banning single-use plastics
Single-use plastic products, such as disposable straws, collectively account for 70% of marine waste in Europe.
Keystone
While the European Union intends to ban plastic straws, single-use cutlery, and other disposable plastics, the Swiss government has no plans to follow suit. The Federal Council is not considering any kind of ban, environment minister Doris Leuthard said on Monday.
In response to a question by the House of Representatives, Leuthard said that the Federal Council is committed to “avoiding, reducing, reusing and recycling” measures and referred to voluntary industry measures such as the plastic bag charges.
But Switzerland would not introduce a ban similar to the one the EU plans to impose, especially since the Brussels decision was primarily targeted at the reduction of waste in the sea.
The Swiss government, Leuthard said, would favour solutions developed by the business sector.
Discarded drinking straws, cotton swabs and other everyday plastic products do not represent a major environmental hazard to Swiss nature and waterways, according to the minister.
Littering is being fought with a broad range of measures, she noted, adding that the quantities of microplastics in Swiss waterways is very small.
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is currently investigating from which sources this microplastic originated from. Leuthard cited an EU study which shows that it was mainly the result of tire abrasion or the weathering of paint coatings and textile fibres.
The EU Comission wants to ban disposable plastic fishing nets and various disposable plastic products, including cutlery and crockery. Single-use plastic utensils such as drinking straws and stirring spoons will be banned and replaced with instruments made of more durable and less environmentally harmful materials.
For products for which there are no suitable alternative materials available already, consumption is to be dramatically reduced. By 2025, disposable plastic bottles should be almost fully recycled.
Single-use plastic products collectively account for 70% of marine waste in Europe.
Swatch shareholders reject board bid by Steven Wood
This content was published on
At the Swiss watchmaker’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 79.2% of votes cast opposed his election to the supervisory board.
WHO members agree to 20% rise in mandatory contributions
This content was published on
If the resolution is backed in the plenary session, the organisation’s budget for 2026-2027 will rise to CHF4.2 billion ($5.1 billion).
Japanese inflatable concert hall heads to Switzerland for the first time
This content was published on
The Ark Nova has been assembled four times to date – each time in a Japanese city. But this September, it’s heading to the Lucerne Festival.
Swiss government pledges CHF11 million to UNRWA amid Gaza crisis
This content was published on
Switzerland will contribute CHF20 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs in the occupied Palestinian territory and to support UNRWA operations.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
Opinion
More
Why beating plastic pollution must be a global priority
This content was published on
Humanity is addicted to plastic 100 years after its invention, warns Erik Solheim, executive director of United Nations Environment.
This content was published on
For 30 days, swissinfo.ch journalist Susan Misicka saved all of her plastic garbage, but found that not even half of it could be recycled.
Migros says packaging protests will help develop its policy
This content was published on
Switzerland's biggest retailer Migros says protests against excess plastic packaging will help it adapt to what consumers want.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.