Goodbye to sugar and ketchup sachets in Barcelona restaurants from 2026

Sugar, salt and ketchup sachets will disappear from bars and restaurants in 2026. The new European rule directly affects the Catalan hospitality sector. Only food delivery is exempt. Discover how it will affect your day-to-day life.

From August 2026, bars and restaurants in Barcelona and throughout Spain will have to say goodbye to the classic individual sachets of sugar, salt, ketchup and oil. This is established by the new European Union regulation, which seeks to drastically reduce the use of single-use plastics in the hospitality sector.

At present, it is common for establishments to serve these products in small disposable containers alongside dishes. However, the new regulation prohibits their use on the premises, allowing them only to be provided in food delivery orders.

The measure will particularly affect customers’ routines and business operations, which will have to seek more sustainable alternatives for offering these condiments. The EU’s objective is clear: to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated every day.

But the changes do not end there. By 2030, hotels across the European Union will also have to eliminate single-use containers for personal hygiene products such as gels and shampoos. The transformation in users’ experience will be unavoidable.

Catalan hospitality is preparing for a new era without sachets or disposable containers. The impact will be immediate and visible in the daily lives of people in Barcelona.