Dear eBay Trust & Safety Team, we would like to once again ask for a serious manual review of our case. Our listings were removed with reference to the eBay policy on “Single-use plastic products,” and our account was temporarily restricted. However, to our understanding, our product was incorrectly classified as a single-use plastic product. Our product is not a single-use cigarette filter, not a cigarette butt, and not a product that is used once and then discarded. It is a new, unused, sealed, and reusable cigarette filter accessory that is attached externally to the tip of a cigarette and can be used multiple times. The product is also not made of used plastic, waste plastic, or discarded plastic. It is sold exclusively as a new product. The key point is reusability. According to our product information, each filter can be used 4 to 6 times. The product can come into contact with water and can be cleaned after use. After a single use, it does not lose its shape, does not melt, does not collapse, and does not become unusable. It is therefore neither designed as a disposable product nor intended to be thrown away after a single use. We also have laboratory tests from an EU-accredited laboratory according to ISO 4387, which show that the filters retain their functionality over multiple uses and continue to be effective for up to six uses. This confirms that the product was developed and tested as a reusable product and not as a disposable item. Since 2018, we have also received numerous customer responses confirming that our customers use the filters multiple times. A pack of 300 filters therefore serves not only 300 cigarettes, but depending on use can enable around 1,500 applications. This also clearly distinguishes our product from classic disposable cigarette filters or cigarette butts. We understand that the eBay policy lists the term “cigarette filters” among examples of single-use plastic products. However, according to our understanding, this same policy also allows reusable and more sustainable alternative products. Our product falls exactly into this category: it is reusable, washable, not used, not made from waste plastic, and not intended for one-time disposal. Unfortunately, despite two appeals, numerous phone calls, and many chats, we have so far not been able to reach a factual resolution. What is particularly problematic is that we have not received any comprehensible, detailed explanation as to why our specific evidence and explanations were not accepted. We cannot even clearly understand how exactly our appeals were reviewed and on what basis they were rejected. This situation has had significant economic consequences for our company. We built up this eBay account over around two years with great effort. Due to what we believe was an insufficiently careful review of the appeals, our business on the German marketplace has almost come to a standstill. At present, we cannot sell our products on the German eBay marketplace, although we believe that the product does not fall under the ban on single-use plastic products. From our point of view, this is no longer just a routine support issue, but a legally relevant problem. If a product is assigned to a prohibited category without a concrete, comprehensible, and substantiated justification, even though the seller can provide technical explanations, proof of use, and laboratory documentation, then at the very least a detailed manual review by the responsible policy team must take place. We would like to explicitly emphasize that we are ready to fully adjust our listings in order to avoid misunderstandings. For example, we can include clear wording such as: “Reusable cigarette filter accessory” “Reusable up to 6 times” “Washable/cleanable with water” “Not a disposable product” “Not intended for one-time disposal” “New product, not used plastic” “Reusable alternative” We therefore urgently ask eBay for the following: A renewed manual review by the responsible policy or Trust-&-Safety team. A concrete and understandable explanation of why our product was classified as a single-use plastic product despite being reusable. A review of our evidence, including the laboratory documentation and product information. The lifting of the temporary sales restriction. The reinstatement of the affected listings or a clear confirmation of the specific wording under which the products may be listed in compliance with the rules. We respect eBay’s policies and support the goal of reducing actual single-use plastic products and environmental impact. At the same time, we ask that our product not be broadly equated with classic disposable cigarette filters or cigarette butts, as it clearly differs from them in function, use, product structure, and purpose. We ask for a serious review and a detailed response, as this matter has significant economic and legal importance for our company. Kind regards Robust Ventures LTD
