Single-use plastic is an issue when it comes to take-away food and deliveries, but there are possible solutions such as the eco-box or bringing your own containers.

Horesca, which represents the interests of hotels, restaurants, and cafés, is relieved that they have been given more time to reduce single-use plastic.

During the government council, the deadline was recently pushed back to 1 January 2027, and potentially will be postponed to 2028, instead of 1 January 2025. The newly envisioned solution could even be less strict than the government had expected.

The first due date for removing all single-use plastic in restoration was supposed to be in 10 days. Whether the temporary extension is accompanied by other judiciary changes is still unclear to Claude Ries, the consultant at Horesca.

"It is hard for us to comment on judiciary amendments. We heard that changes were made over the media. We also attended a conference with the ministry, we send in alternative solutions, yet unsuccessfully. Basically, we as restaurants cannot say anything yet", Claude Ries affirms.

There are European regulations stating how single-use packaging could be reduced in the Horesca sector. Horesca demands their implementation, without becoming more severe. The European solution clearly asserts that containers which can be used more than once are a good alternative.

"That means that the client can still decide themselves what they want to do. It does not always suit the client to have to bring back containers", he adds. 
He pitches the idea of specific stations where one can give back these boxes. Nevertheless, there is a lot of work left to do, including international collaboration.

"We are a rather small country, so if we do not have the same rules as bordering countries, if we have stricter rules, then we encounter the risk of people preferring to visit restaurants over the border. We also have a lot of people transiting through Luxembourg". Thus if you buy food while travelling, it would be much easier to be able to give back your container in Arlon or Trier, or even further, claimed Claude Ries.

The additional time Horesca has been granted should be used to prepare people and explain to them what the issue is actually about:

"The law is clearly about reducing waste, and I think that people who want to be truly eco-responsible should just eat in the restaurant, because then there is no waste at all. It remains the best possible solution and supports local restaurants, which is the right way", elaborates the consultant.

What is more, it is already allowed to bring your own containers. Claude Ries thinks of the green Eco-Box which one can bring basically everywhere to store food when the whole meal can't be eaten. The only condition the restaurants expect is that the container has been cleaned throughly.