http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1017_en.htm

Brussels, 4 November 2013

Environment: Commission proposes to reduce the use of plastic bags

Today the European Commission adopted a proposal that requires Member 
States to reduce their use of lightweight plastic carrier bags. Member 
States can choose the measures they find most appropriate, including 
charges, national reduction targets or a ban under certain conditions. 
Lightweight plastic bags are often used only once, but can persist in 
the environment for hundreds of years, often as harmful microscopic 
particles that are known to be dangerous to marine life in particular.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "We're taking action to 
solve a very serious and highly visible environmental problem. Every 
year, more than 8 billion plastic bags end up as litter in Europe, 
causing enormous environmental damage. Some Member States have already 
achieved great results in terms of reducing their use of plastic bags. 
If others followed suit we could reduce today's overall consumption in 
the European Union by as much as 80%."