The scope of the European Single Use Plastics directive for packaging is extensive. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has asked Rebel and Partners for Innovation for advice. The Assessment framework for regulations on single-use plastic products, first published in 2022, is largely based on this advice. An updated version of the regulations were published by the ministry in May 2026.

Regulations around single-use plastic products and materials have been tightened in recent years. Initially, it was mainly about the ban on disposable products such as straws and plastic cutlery and about the marking that should be applied. In the second phase, the focus is mainly on the implications for food packaging.

Volume and portions

The implications of the directive for packaging are far-reaching, both practically and financially. The most important question that the sector is asking itself is which packaging exactly falls under the directive. Decisive here is the question of where the contents of packaging are consumed and whether the packaging has a tendency to end up as litter. This is influenced, among other things, by the volume and the number of portions that a package contains.

To provide more clarity on how companies can comply with SUP regulations, the Dutch Ministry has drawn up the  ‘Afwegingskader Regelgeving kunststofproducten voor eenmalig gebruik’ (Assessment framework for regulations on single-use plastic products). This assessment framework contains decision trees, definitions and numerous examples for form-retaining food packaging, bags and wrappers, drinking cups and beverage packaging.

From complex to clear choices

In the SUP Assessment Framework, the Ministry has largely adopted the external advice that Partners for Innovation and Rebel provided at the request of the Ministry. This Advice Decision Trees for SUP Regulations mainly aims to reduce the complexity of the guideline to a clear and practical selection process with clarifying examples.

Would you like to know more about the SUP scheme and how we can support you in its implementation? Read our theme page about Single Use Plastics or contact Siem Haffmans.