Roundup: 5 years after Germany's plastic bag ban, greens call for tougher rules

BERLIN, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Five years after Germany decided to phase out most single-use plastic shopping bags, retailers and the plastics industry point to clear progress, but environmental groups say loopholes and rising packaging waste indicate that tougher rules are needed.

"The ban has clearly reduced the use of plastic carrier bags in retail, but there are still far too many single-use plastic bags in cir