Paphos Life

Why did Europe change bottle caps?

It is mandatory for all EU countries to remove loose caps by July for plastic drinks bottles up to three litres. This is part of an EU directive announced in 2018 that aims to reduce single-use plastic waste. The loose caps have been banned as part of a larger plan to tackle plastic waste in Europe.

Do you like them or hate them?

I personally don't like them.

I hate them because when you drink out of the bottle you make a mess, whatever ankle you try to drink. When you close the bottle, quite a lot of liquid is running down and you need something to wipe it, otherwise its all sticky, except water ones.

I like to drink Kefir, and right now I am cleaning my office floor from the white marks it left after it dried....

In theory perhaps a good idea, but in reality bullshit. I tear off the cup now, slowly slowly otherwise another mess happens.

Max

Surely the bottle itself is single-use anyway?

I helped with an Akamas beach cleanup once and the number of bottle caps washed up was unbelievable so I can understand the reasoning.

I must be one of the few people who has no problem with them at all. I just hold the cap back with my thumb when drinking from the bottle, and it only needs a little more effort to ensure the cap is properly seated when closing to avoid seepage.

Oxfordboy wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2024 7:48 am

I must be one of the few people who has no problem with them at all. I just hold the cap back with my thumb when drinking from the bottle, and it only needs a little more effort to ensure the cap is properly seated when closing to avoid seepage.

Bottle producers developed different kind of caps. For example Lidl table water found a good solution (and with water it is no problem if you spill anyhow) however how the Greek Kefir ones are designed it is a mess from A to Z. (and with milk it matters)

I am quite sure in the near future bad designed caps will disappear if customers complain enough.

Max

Probably be like the plastic straw directive. Shops are still selling them and many tavernas still using them. One taverna owner, when challenged said to us, "We still have a stock from covid, which we are allowed to use."

Definitely a problem with keffir bottles. By the time you've shaken it the bottle cap fills up and drips when its opened. I cut mine off. Less mess.
Frappe with a paper straw is definitely a no no as it goes soggy. I usually take my own out with me.

As someone with arthritic hands and especially the thumbs I find these all in one bottles and fruit/milk cartons very difficult to use.
On a number of occasions I haven't screwed the cap back onto the fruit juice carton which I only find out when I shake it before filling a glass!

Although many things are sold for single use I use the 500ml water bottles many times and regularly clean them because it is easier for me to monitor my daily water intake by counting the number of bottles of water I have drunk.
So, with difficulty I cut off the lid and the plastic surround so the cap is easier to take on and off as I prefer to drink straight from the bottle.

When out I also prefer to drink from a straw so have a stainless steel straw which I purchased from Sklavenitis as it saves me having to pick up a glass each time I want to drink - again due to arthritis.

EU directive or not, we have them here in the UK now, and it's a pain using them. It's difficult to screw the lid back in place, as the whole until turns round. Worse still, the tonic I use for my Gin, has these tops, and often, once a litre bottle is opened, it goes flat, as it obviously isn't a tight fit anymore.