EU single use plastics directive consultation: partial equality impact assessment

Stage 1: Framing

Results of framing exercise

11. The following data and evidence have been utilised to frame the assessment:

• Evidence from existing surveys
• Data gathered from a range of other evidence and sources.

Initial summary reflection

12. As this is a partial EQIA, it is not intended to be a definitive statement or a full assessment of impacts. It presents a preliminary assessment and indicative impacts that will require further consideration by the Scottish Government to inform the consultation and implementation of the proposed policy.

13. It is important to note that the protected characteristics are not independent of each other and some people may be affected by complex and interconnected issues related to disadvantage at any one time.

14. A restriction on the availability of the specified single-use plastic products may impact on some people with certain protected characteristics more than others. Initial analysis has highlighted that a market restriction on straws could have a more significant impact on disabled people, the very old and very young.

15. The remainder of the other items investigated do not appear, at this stage, to raise significant equality-related issues. However, this may be due to a lack of available published information and the individual circumstances of those impacted. Direct engagement with equality groups and individuals may identify further impacts.

Interaction with other policies (draft or existing)

16. The proposed market restrictions form part of a suite of measures being taken by the Scottish Government to reduce our reliance on single-use items, including the introduction of an environmental charge on single-use cups and an increase to the charge placed on single-use carrier bags.

17. This policy also has the potential to interact with the work underway to implement a new UK-wide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging.

Extent/Level of EQIA required

18. The evidence captured in the next section entitled 'Data and evidence gathering, involvement and consultation' has been drawn from a range of sources. Primarily, evidence has been gathered from existing large national and UK surveys, particularly the results of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Summary on proposals to ban the distribution and/or sale of plastic straws, plastic stemmed cotton buds and plastic drink stirrers in England (2018). In addition, some information on protected characteristics, demographics and other relevant statistics is included.