The European Parliament has agreed on the ban of disposable plastic products such as plastic straws, plastic utensils, and plastic cotton buds. If there are greener alternatives, these items will be banned by 2021. While most would agree it is time to reduce disposable plastic use, many will not of thought of longer reaching consequences – namely, the risk to Kinder Surprise eggs. Children love the chocolate treat as a small toy is hidden inside – but as it is made of plastic, as well as being wrapped in a plastic shell, could it be banned under the new rules?
Luckily, the new directive does not apply to toys – so children everywhere can breath a sigh of relief.
Express.co.uk contacted Ferrero, the makers of Kinder chocolate, who said: “Kinder Surprise toys are durable goods, not single use plastics, and are not meant to be disposed of.
“The specially designed toy in Kinder Surprise forms an integral and inseparable part of the product, as part of a unique 3-in-1 experience of treat, discover, and play. They can be enjoyed by children again and again.”
German TV channel RTL spoke to German Green MEP, Martin Häusling to get more details on the plastic ban.
Asking what packaging ban was being considered in the EU Parliament, Häusling explained: “Well, for now it will be about the first small steps and this means disposable packaging and disposable plastic cutlery will disappear from the market.”
Detailing why this is being banned now, he continued: “Well, it is replaceable. And therefore it is now about things that can easily be replaced. Straws do not have to be made out of plastic. You can find them everywhere in the environment. Used once and then binned, that cannot be.
Asked directly about the Kinder Surprise egg, Martin said: “Recycle, replace, refrain if possible – these are the next big steps. Whether this applies to the Kinder surprise egg, I don’t know. But maybe it can also be melted down and reused.”
EU Member States must now adopt the new rules before they come into force in two years. Without new legislative initiatives against plastic, according to the European Commission, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.
It is unclear whether the UK will follow its own plastic initiative on leaving the EU.
Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg