This article was originally published in English
The number of lightweight plastic bags purchased in the EU is staggering – almost 30 billion in 2022 alone. However, their usage rate is rapidly decreasing. Which countries use it the most and which are the most environmentally friendly?
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EU member states have taken progressive steps over the past decade to reduce the use of lightweight plastic bags, including imposing additional taxes and encouraging the adoption of compostable and biodegradable alternatives.
Although these measures have not entirely solved the problem, they have proven effective: today, EU citizens buy around 30% fewer lightweight plastic bags than in 2018, according to a report from Eurostat published Tuesday.
However, overall consumption remains very high.
In 2022 alone, almost 30 billion lightweight plastic bags were purchased in the EU, an average of more than 66 bags per person.
Lithuanians buy almost a bag per day, Belgians buy almost none in a year
Lithuania recorded the highest use per capita with 249 bags, followed by Latvia (193) and the Czech Republic (185).
With only four bags per capita, Belgium recorded the lowest consumption rate, followed by Poland (7) and Portugal (13).
What is a lightweight plastic bag and what is its impact?
Lightweight plastic bags are less than 50 microns thick and are normally used to transport small quantities of food products.
They have a devastating impact on the environment.
Not only do they take centuries to decompose, but they also break down into micro-plastics, which end up in the human and animal food chain.
Video editor • Mert Can Yilmaz
Belgium
