Increased plastic pollution following the introduction of EU requirements on tethered bottle caps

Priority question for written answer P-001804/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Beatrice Timgren (ECR), Charlie Weimers (ECR), Dick Erixon (ECR), Kristoffer Storm (ECR), Jaak Madison (ECR) Subject: Increased plastic pollution following the introduction of EU requirements on tethered bottle caps The aim of the directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment1 is to curb plastic pollution, including by requiring that plastic caps remain attached to drinks containers. The Commission maintains that the aim is to prevent plastic caps ending up in the natural environment. However, since the EU requirement was introduced in 2024, the number of plastic bottle caps found on the beaches of Sweden’s west coast has tripled. According to data from the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation, the number of plastic caps found per 100 metres of beach rose from 46 in 2023 to 144 in 2024. This is the first such increase in several years. Local beach litter‑pickers think the increase might be down to people expressing their frustration at the ridiculous requirements by pulling off the caps and using nature as a bin. The EU’s rules are therefore potentially causing an increase in plastic pollution2. With the above in mind: 1. How does the Commission interpret data that show that stricter regulation correlates with an increase in plastic pollution? 2. What will the Commission learn from what has happened on Sweden’s west coast, and will the counterproductive...