International Plastic Bag Free Day 2025 Observed Globally on July 3.

Important Days

International Plastic Bag Free Day is observed every year on July 3 to raise awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastic (SUP) bags on the environment, marine life, and human health. The observance encourages people to switch to sustainable, reusable alternatives.


      - The day was first observed on 3 July 2008 in Catalonia, Spain, initiated by the organization Rezero, a member of Zero Waste Europe (ZWE). Over the years, the campaign expanded and gained global momentum through community-led initiatives against plastic pollution.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) In 2009, ZWE extended the awareness initiative across the European Union (EU), leading to broader policy discussions on plastic bag regulation and sustainable alternatives within member states. This movement significantly impacted legislative actions in the EU.

      (ii) By 2015, the European Union adopted the Plastic Bags Directive (EU 2015/720) and amended the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC) to limit the usage of lightweight plastic bags, emphasizing reduction and reuse policies to mitigate plastic waste.

(iii) In 2016, the day officially became part of the Break Free from Plastic (BFFP) Movement, a global coalition of more than 1,500 organizations committed to eliminating plastic pollution and promoting global plastic bag bans and alternatives.

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