Hospitality sector still faces challenges in complying with single-use plastic legislation

Plastic Free Menorca Alliance finds that Hospitality businesses still face difficulties in complying with single-use plastics legislation

The Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, promoted by Menorca Preservation, has analysed data collected through the Plastic Free Balearics certification, with the participation of 60 Hospitality sector businesses in Menorca, in order to identify the main challenges in implementing the legislation and explore new ways of supporting the sector

The Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, promoted by Menorca Preservation, has analysed data from the Plastic Free Balearics certification, which aims to support Hospitality sector businesses in complying with current legislation. This analysis forms part of a new initiative led by the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance: the Plastic Observatory, whose objective is to act as a public service for data analysis and interpretation in order to understand the evolution and current state of plastic waste in terms of management, impacts and levels of legislative compliance.

This initiative has been made possible thanks to funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment of the Government of the Balearic Islands, which supported the launch of the Observatory. Based on information gathered during advisory visits to 41 tourist accommodation establishments (18.4% of the total in Menorca) and 21 bars and restaurants (1.8% of the total), as well as the analysis of a total of 1,090 products, this work integrates the most recent European, national and Balearic legislation — including the European Packaging Regulation, Spanish Law 7/2022 and Royal Decree 1055/2022 on packaging and packaging waste, as well as Balearic Law 8/2019 and its technical guidelines — with a particular focus on restrictions on single-use products.

Only 3.2% of the businesses visited complied with the legislation during the first stage of the certification process

Of the total number of businesses visited (62), only 3.2% complied with the legislation and did not have any prohibited products on their premises. When broken down by accommodation establishments and bars and restaurants, the data show that none of the bars and restaurants advised by the technical team complied with the legislation during the first visit.

After receiving guidance through the certification, 52% of these businesses implemented the necessary changes to comply with the legislation

“From Menorca Preservation, we find it very revealing that businesses which voluntarily took part in the certification process (and therefore already had the intention to comply with the legislation) were unable to do so during the first visit. These data highlight a lack of awareness of the regulatory framework and reinforce the need to continue supporting and guiding businesses so that they can move towards compliance, especially given the key role of the HORECA sector in Menorcan society,” says Rebecca Morris, Director of Menorca Preservation.

The most frequently found prohibited products are straws, single-portion products and infusions

The five prohibited products most frequently identified were: straws; sugar and sweetener sachets that do not comply with the legally required compostability certification; individually wrapped teas and infusions and/or those with bags that do not comply with the legally required compostability certification; single-use cups; and food products in single-portion formats.

Positive results in water provision, with 63% offered in alternatives to single-use formats

According to the data analysed, returnable water containers are used in 26.5% of cases, a figure very close to the target established by Royal Decree 1055/2022, which sets a target of 30% by 2025. Furthermore, when refillable water options using filtered water on-site and water from filtered water fountains are included, alternatives that are not served in single-use formats exceed 60%.

The Alliance continues to support Hospitality businesses

Until 2025, the Alliance used the Plastic Free Balearics certification and its HAPI methodology, promoted by the organisation Save The Med, as a tool to advise Hospitality sector establishments. However, following changes in the strategic restructuring process of the promoting organisation’s activities, the Alliance has decided to strengthen and expand the Plastic Free Menorca Commitment, with the aim of including the entire business community of Menorca in a single process of support and environmental improvement.

This initiative was launched in 2022 by the Alliance itself, with the objective of supporting businesses in making an active commitment to reducing plastic use in their operations, as well as advising them on the drafting of an environmental policy.

Any business wishing to receive further information can contact info@plasticfreemenorca.org

More information: https://www.plasticfreemenorca.org/es/observatorio/normativa/201