Retailers Urged to Take Final Step Towards Full Elimination of Banned Single-Use Plastics

New national campaign backed by Retail Ireland, CSNA, Retail Excellence Ireland and RGDATA, supports retailers in completing transition away from 10 banned single-use plastic items.

• Research shows strong sector progress, with compliance now largely embedded across supply chains.
• Only 8% of businesses report being offered banned items by suppliers.
• MyWaste’s Self-Audit Checklist produced to support final step to full compliance.

Retailers across Ireland are being encouraged to take the final step in fully eliminating banned single-use plastic (SUP) items for sale and supply, as MyWaste launches a new national awareness campaign aimed at supporting full sector compliance.

Running from 26th April to 10th May 2026, and backed by key retail industry bodies including Retail Ireland, part of the Ibec group, Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association (CSNA), Retail Excellence Ireland and Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA), MyWaste’s Single-Use Plastics campaign is designed to support retailers in completing the final phase of compliance by fully removing any remaining banned SUP items from stock and supply chains, while driving nationwide engagement and reinforcing a unified, sector-wide commitment.

The research, conducted by Empathy Research on behalf of MyWaste, Ireland’s official guide to managing your waste, highlights the Irish retail sector that has already made significant progress. The vast majority of businesses report that banned items have now been significantly removed from circulation, with just 8% of businesses saying they have been offered banned single-use plastics by suppliers, and only 4% reporting recent purchases. This indicates that the transition away from these products is well advanced across the Irish market.

While purchasing and stocking behaviours of retailers are largely positive, awareness of the EU regulations, transposed into Irish law in 2021, remains low, with close to 50% of retailers being aware that certain SUP items are banned. However, the findings also show that sustainable alternatives have become standard practice in retail operations. More than seven in ten businesses (71%) now provide non-plastic alternatives to straws, while two-thirds (66%) offer alternatives to plastic cutlery, demonstrating widespread adoption of compliant, environmentally friendly options across the sector.

At the centre of the campaign is a newly developed and free to download Retailer Self-Audit Checklist, a practical guide designed to help businesses review existing stock, identify any non-compliant products, and take straightforward steps towards full compliance. Retailers are also encouraged to show their commitment to eliminating Single Use Plastics by displaying the campaign pledge badge in-store and online.

Patrick Stratynski, Retail Manager at a EUROSPAR outlet, said; “This campaign is an important step in supporting retailers to fully comply with the ban on 10 single-use plastic items. It not only raises awareness of the specific products affected, but also provides a practical, easy-to-use solution through MyWaste’s self-audit checklist, enabling businesses to quickly review their stock and ensure they are meeting requirements with confidence.”

Samira Nicolo, Senior Executive, Retail Ireland, part of the Ibec group, said; “Retail Ireland is happy to partner with MyWaste authorities on this national awareness campaign focused on the elimination of the 10 banned Single-Use Plastics items. Sustainability is a key priority for retailers, and this campaign is an important opportunity to raise awareness and continue the sector’s commitment to reducing waste.”

Vincent Jennings, Chief Executive Officer at CSNA said; “Convenience retailers across Ireland have made significant progress in removing banned single-use plastic products, and this campaign is about supporting them to complete that transition fully. The findings show that compliance is largely embedded but also highlight that awareness of the specific regulations still needs to improve. That’s where this initiative adds real value — it provides clear, practical guidance that retailers can act on immediately. CSNA is pleased to support this campaign, which will help ensure all retailers are aligned, compliant, and confident in meeting their obligations.”

“The evidence is clear that the majority of Irish retailers have made excellent progress in transitioning away from single-use plastics”, said Will Mitchell, Waste Prevention Officer at MyWaste. “While most retailers are already providing sustainable alternatives to banned single-use plastics, awareness of the regulations is still relatively low and this campaign will ensure that relevant companies have the information they need, as well as the support, to see the elimination of these banned items from Ireland. This campaign is about making that final step as simple and straightforward as possible, supporting businesses with the tools and guidance they need to complete the transition with confidence.

“While Ireland, along with many other countries, has taken important steps to restrict and ban a range of single-use plastic items, our research shows that prohibited products still persist within parts of the supply chain. That’s why MyWaste is calling on retail businesses in particular to take shared responsibility — to refuse illegal, single-use plastics and support the shift towards compliant, sustainable alternatives. By doing so, we can help protect our environment and create a cleaner, healthier future for generations to come,” Will Mitchell added.

Retailers, wholesalers and suppliers are being encouraged to take three simple actions as part of the campaign:

• Download and complete the self-audit from MyWaste.ie (Link to download toolkit)
• Identify and remove any remaining banned single-use plastic items
• Demonstrate participation by displaying the campaign digital badge

Retailers are reminded that it is illegal[1] to place the following single-use plastic items on the Irish market:

• Plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)
• Plastic chopsticks
• Plastic plates
• Plastic straws
• Plastic drink stirrers
• Plastic balloon sticks/rods
• Plastic cotton bud sticks
• Expanded polystyrene food and drinks containers (“Styrofoam”)
• Oxo-degradable plastic products

By supporting retailers to complete the final step in this transition, the campaign aims to ensure consistent compliance across the sector and further strengthen Ireland’s move towards more sustainable retail practices.

Retailers can access the Self-Audit Checklist and campaign resources via www.mywaste.ie/sup. Download our handy checklist! HERE

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