Impact of COVID-19 on Single-Use Plastics and the Environment in Europe

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are lingering in many communities around the world. In addition to related health and economic consequences, the pandemic has also greatly impacted the climate and the environment. To reduce infection risks, national governments imposed lockdowns, introduced stay-at-home measures, and recommended or obliged the use of personal protection equipment like masks. This has resulted in increased use of single-use plastic products, such as disposable masks, gloves and packaging.

This report provides an overview of the environmental and climate impacts of single-use face masks and gloves used for COVID-19 protection and of plastic packaging used for e-commerce and take-away food deliveries for the period from April to September 2020.