From July 3rd 2021 plastic coffee spoons, the one dispensed by vending machines, will be banned.

A news that risks bringing the entire production system to its knees. In fact, how will sugar be mixed for those who prefer sweet coffee? Indeed, we could reach 90 percent of employed people at home.

The alarm comes from Confida, the Italian automatic distribution association which has 3,000 companies and more than 33,000 workers. Under accuse we have the Sup directive, is which establishes the replacement of single-use plastics with natural and more sustainable alternatives.

 Italy transposed the directive with the European delegation law, number 53 of the last April 22nd, then published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale.

Confida says: “Compostable bioplastic does not withstand the high temperatures of hot drinks such as coffee, tea and chocolate. Wood, on the other hand, in addition to not having recyclability certifications and being less resistant than plastic to humidity and heat inside the machine, is an imported product and therefore the current Italian producers and today European leaders in the production of plastic pallets risk to become simple resellers of foreign products “.

 At the end of 2019, just 1 percent of the pallets on the market were made of wood.

The situation seems to be difficult, then.

“The plastic pallet sector is made up of Italian companies whose business is based exclusively on this product. The state-of-the-art machinery used in the production process cannot be converted into the production of accessories other than plastic and their consequent disposal will cause companies a loss in value of millions of euros ”. The crisis risks of devastating the entire supply chain.

Stefania Di Vito, from the scientific office of Legambiente, does not believe that the law will be applied in time for July: “Italy has not yet approved the implementing decree. At this moment it is difficult to think that the ban can really take effect from July 3rd. Italy must also approve its National Reduction Plan with targets for the reduction and removal of some very specific products. It is the task of the Ministry for Energy Transition ”.

Massimo Trapletti, president of Confida, concludes: “Plastic stirrers are recyclable products made of the same material as the cups used in vending machines. For this reason, Corepla and Unionplast have been included in the RiVending project promoted by Confidi, which combines with the European principles of the circular economy, providing a virtuous ‘end of life’ to the plastic of vending machines ”.

It is not sufficient. An alternative must be found as soon as possible to not risk a bitter surprise in the next coffee.