title: The existing situation and challenges regarding the use of plastic carrier bags in Europe.
abstract: Since day one, retailers and consumers have favoured plastic carrier bags. However, owing to the numerous environmental disadvantages, lightweight plastic carrier bags have been drawing the attention of the European Union competent authorities. Therefore, many European Union member states have taken action so as to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags. Based on the existing legislation and voluntary initiatives for the reduction of lightweight plastic carrier bags, the challenges and achieved outcomes from the implemented policy options in the various European Union member states are discussed and commented regarding the forthcoming transposition of the 'Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags' into the European Union member states' national law.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasidoni
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece konmoust@central.ntua.gr.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moustakas
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malamis
mesh_terms: D058735:Environmental Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005062:European Union; D033161:Government Regulation; D006794:Household Articles; D019064:Product Packaging / Q000379:methods*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*
keywords: European Union member states; Single-use lightweight plastic carrier bags; behaviour change; environmental behaviour; policy evaluation