As the world takes action on climate change and pollution, an increasing number of environmental regulations may impact the toy industry. We have started gathering them here to make it easy to find relevant regulations.*

This is a collaborative resource, please send us regulations and we'll upload them here. 

Europe

European Union

Directive on single-use plastics - October 2021

• Where sustainable alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States. See list of products impacted here.
• General requirements on the marking of certain single-use plastic products that are frequently inappropriately disposed of.
  

For more information see website and guidelines. 

EU - Emissions Trading Scheme, Phase 4 (2021-2030)

•  intermediate target of an at least 55% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030Search for available translations of the preceding
• the sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) must reduce their emissions by 43% compared to 2005 levels.
• "Several low-carbon funding mechanisms will be set up to help energy-intensive industrial sectors and the power sector meet the innovation and investment challenges of the transition to a low-carbon economy."

For more information visit their website.

United Kingdom

UK - Emissions Trading Scheme

• Replaced the UK’s participation in the EU ETS on 1 January 2021.
• Commitment: Net Zero 2050

Climate Change Levy (CCL)

• Climate change agreements are voluntary agreements made between UK industry and the Environment Agency to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. In return, operators receive a discount on the Climate Change Levy (CCL), a tax added to electricity and fuel bills. 
• The current CCA scheme started in April 2013 and will run until 31 March 2025.

For more information visit UK Govt and the Climate Change Committee site.

France

Anti-waste Law for a Circular Economy, known as the AGEC law:

The law includes over 50 measures to move toward a circular economy. The measures that may impact the toy industry include, but are not limited to: 

• Prohibit expanded polystyrene boxes, as of 1st January 2021.
• Prohibit plastic toys supplied with some menus, as of 1st January 2022.
• Prohibit the shipping under plastic wrap of press and advertising publications as of 1 January 2023.
• End the distribution of unrequested printed advertising matter containing mineral oils.
• Bans mineral oil-based printing inks as of 1 January 2025 for "printing intended for the public", which includes the printed press.
• Make sorting more efficient through a single logo, sorting methods and a harmonization of the colour of waste bins.
• Prohibit the destruction of non-food unsold products.
• Apply a repairability index and make progress towards a durability index
• Facilitate repair and promote the use of used spare parts.
• Extend the legal guarantee of conformity.
• Transform the functioning of polluter pays sectors: the heart of the system.
• Extend the responsibility of manufacturers in the management of their waste by creating new channels.
• Encourage more environmentally friendly products with a bonus-malus system.

More details on each measure.

A helpful resource on what this means for companies with business in France. 

Germany

Verpackungs Register

• Registering packaging materials brought into Germany

Asia

China

Chinese National Carbon Trading Scheme (Cap and Trade) - initiated Feb 2021.

• Commitment: China promised in the COP to reduce their carbon intensity per unit of GDP by 60–65% by 2030.
• The eight sectors included in the scheme are petrochemicals, chemicals, building materials, steel, ferrous metals, paper-making, power-generation and aviation.

For more information visit Ministry of Ecology and Environment. 

 

Australasia

New Zealand

Phasing out hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics 

• Ban includes compostable and bio-based plastic alternatives due to lack of infrastructure to process these products. 
• Ban includes all oxo and photo degradable plastics because they have pro-degradant additives that make the plastic break down faster in the environment than traditional plastic.
• Tranche 2 of the plan has just been enacted (Oct 1st 2022) with phase out by 2023. Tranche 3 enacted by 2025. More information on plastics phase out. 

Australia

Climate Change Bill 

• Commitment: cut greenhouse gas emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, and to reach net zero by 2050. This sets in law Australia’s latest Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the global Paris Agreement on climate change.
• The bill puts Australia’s NDC into law and empowers the Climate Change Authority in two new areas – to advise the Minister for Climate Change to inform the climate statements, and to advise on new greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets to be included in a new or adjusted NDC.
• Starts the process of embedding the targets into government policies and decision-making.

 

*This reference list is for information purposes only, it does not constitute advice. We take no responsibility for the accuracy of this list or whether or not it applies to your situation or business. This list is not exhaustive, it is simply a guide to some environmental regulations.