Why plastic bottles now have their caps attached

[Still Waters]

Quote

An EU directive was enacted in July, requiring that all single-use bottles have caps that remain attached. This is one of several policies designed to limit the amount of plastic litter – particularly the caps from single-use plastic bottles which are far more likely to find their way into the environment and pose an enormous risk to wildlife.

Plastic bottle lids are now among the top ten litter items found in rivers and the ocean. In the UK, 2023 beach surveys listed bottle lids as the third most common type of litter, while on the Dutch North Sea coastline, surveys recorded up to 128 bottle caps for each kilometre of beach in 2016.

Bottle caps are also one of the most common items consumed by marine animals.

https://theconversation.com/why-plastic-bottles-now-have-their-caps-attached-239886

[pellinore]

It can't be an EU directive because UK manufacturers are producing bottles with tethered caps as well. Or perhaps EU directives still apply to the UK?

[Susanc241]

Or perhaps it is easier to make all caps attached if you also export to the EU?

[Shill]

This will come to the US as well. It's also easier to recycle the caps along with the bottle if they are attached.

https://theconversation.com/why-plastic-bottles-now-have-their-caps-attached-239886

If there are US people in the audience, maybe they will remember the days of aluminum pull tabs on cans. Now the tabs are attached. Same idea.

[Abramelin]

9 hours ago, Shill said:

Now the tabs are attached. Same idea.

But a big nuisance.

[Essan]

10 hours ago, Shill said:

This will come to the US as well. It's also easier to recycle the caps along with the bottle if they are attached.

https://theconversation.com/why-plastic-bottles-now-have-their-caps-attached-239886

If there are US people in the audience, maybe they will remember the days of aluminum pull tabs on cans. Now the tabs are attached. Same idea.

I always seperated the caps for recycling as I understood they were a slightly different plastic to that used for the (usually clear) bottle itself - so I assumed they'd go seperate ways at the recycling centre.

Presumably I was wrong.

I do find these attached caps a bit of a nuisance atm, but I'm quite sure we'll get used to them.   And yes, we've all forgotten how the tabs on cans used to be seperate and now remain attached, something which I'm not aware has caused any war, famine or hurricanes, or any other major issues for anyone whatsoever at all