No more bubble wrap in e-shipments?

70 percent of the trash in the seas is single-use plastic, which is why plastic straws, cutlery, and ear sticks are expected to disappear in the European Union in three years. Germany is going a step further. Starting in January 2019, they are introducing restrictions on the amount of plastic in packaging. This also applies to postal deliveries. Also those from Polish online stores. Shoper suggests how to prepare for the eco-revolution.

On November 24, the European Parliament decided to ban single-use plastic in the European Union. It is to be replaced by environmentally friendly substances by 2021. Over the next four years, the amount of plastic packaging for which there are no substitutes will be reduced by half. The final shape of the regulations will be given by negotiations with member countries, but some of them are getting ahead of the curve and introducing their own restrictions on plastic.

Germany has been working for several months on a packaging law (VerpackG) to subject the type of packaging in circulation to state control. The legislation also applies to companies from abroad, such as retailers who ship their products to German customers. If they still want to do so after January 1, 2019, they must register with the newly established authority. According to Rzeczpospolita, several hundred Polish online stores are affected. On the Shoper platform alone, Polish stores that target the German market number 334.

- Registration is just the beginning. The next step is to declare the number and type of packaging used. Based on these, the so-called recycling fee is to be charged. It is not advised to take it lightly. Failure to comply with the new German regulations can result in a fine of up to 100 thousand euros. It is better to take professional legal advice on this subject," suggests Jacek Zientkiewicz Brand Manager of the Shoper brand.

Plastic replacements urgently needed

Ultimately, the regulations being introduced in Germany will serve to limit the use of plastic, i.e., among other things, bubble wrap readily used by online stores to package shock-sensitive products. In light of decisions taken by the European Parliament, the appearance of similar regulations in Poland seems to be a matter of a few years. In addition to legal instruments, consumer pressure is a factor influencing companies' decisions. Under its influence, without waiting for the relevant legislation, in July this year the Polish branch of Lidl announced that by 2025 it would reduce the amount of plastic packaging by 20%, while the Starbucks coffee chain announced that by 2020 disposable straws would disappear from its premises. In August, in turn, the Noizz service, as part of its "Here you drink without a straw" campaign, persuaded several hundred restaurants and cafes across Poland to give them up.

The fact that substitutes for plastic already exist and can be confidently used can be seen by visiting the Fair Trend e-store(https://fairtrend.pl/), which operates on the Shoper platform. Its product range includes bamboo ear buds, biodegradable cutlery, and bottles designed for reusable use. "This store, its three pillars: veganism, Fair Trade and eco-friendly products, is the result of a several-year change we ourselves went through, "write Karolina and Filip, the store's creators.

Eco-trends faster than regulations

The change can also be seen on a broader scale. Research by VIVE Textile Recycling shows that the number of people recycling clothing and textiles increased from 71 percent to 78 percent between March and September 2017 alone, while Google Trends indicates that the number of searches for the phrase "zero waste" (the name for a lifestyle of minimizing the waste produced) has more than tripled in Poland over the past two years.

- Ethical, eco-friendly and minimalist shopping is no longer just a trend, but a real change that is gaining tremendous momentum in our society. What was until recently an abomination (reusing packaging, packaging in compostable materials like gray paper) is a prerequisite for an increasing number of people, the failure to meet which can not only result in public criticism of the brand, but often also in the abandonment of purchases, says Anna Foltman, who works on the Shoper platform and plans to set up a store with products that facilitate a life in line with zero waste with its help. - Now it's up to us to decide: whether we'll flood customers with a sea of plastic until the last minute before the ban, or whether we'll already be a drop dribbling the rock, while gaining an advantage in the market. - He adds.