The proposal put forward by the European Commission last year to ban 10 plastic items most often found on European beaches, and which was adopted by the European Parliament, has now been officially adopted by EU ministers. The new rules, which also aim to tackle abandoned fishing gear and oxo-degradable plastics, focus on items such as plastic cutlery, plates and straws – all of which have alternatives that can be made easily available and affordable. Read the European Council press release here.