In 2015, France set an ambitious precedent by banning certain single-use plastic products. This initiative culminated in the enactment of the AGEC law, which aims to completely phase out single-use plastic packaging by 2040.
Despite these efforts, progress has been inconsistent, as evidenced by Zero Waste France’s recent report.
“Although successive legal measures have been introduced, their effectiveness is hampered by numerous exceptions,” the report said. Although lightweight plastic bags would be phased out from 2016, their use continues.
A 2021 clarification under the AGEC law banned the production, import or sale of these bags. However, exceptions remain for ultralight bags, which are often used for hygienic purposes or for loose food items.
Even the thicker bags, which fall outside the definition of ‘single use’, circumvent the ban. The unintended result is a shift to these alternatives, increasing the total amount of plastic in circulation.
According to the report, “the measures have had a negligible impact on reducing single-use plastics, as thinner bags continue to be used and thicker bags are becoming more common.”
At EU level, the 2019 Single-Use Plastics Directive provided stricter guidelines. For example, the directive bans the use of plastic in single-use plates, even in minimal quantities, and extends this ban to items sold in packaging, such as takeaway meals.
However, the implementation of these measures has been uneven across Member States.
Cups, however, pose a different challenge. The EU directive does not outright ban plastic cups, but encourages a “significant and sustainable reduction” in their use.
France has taken steps to adapt to this directive and limit the plastic content in cups to 8% from 2024. Yet the AGEC law stipulates that further progress is dependent on demonstrating the feasibility of plastic-free alternatives by 2026.
“Technical limitations continue to hinder the complete elimination of plastic in certain products,” the report notes. For example, current solutions for waterproofing alternatives often involve the use of materials such as PFAS, which pose their own environmental concerns.
Zero Waste France emphasizes the need to go beyond single-use systems. The report states: “Replacing plastic with other single-use materials only perpetuates the same consumerist and production-driven mentality.”
Products with lower plastic content often become multi-material, which complicates their recycling and reduces their overall sustainability.
Some measures, such as offering discounts on drinks served in reusable containers, are promising but lack enforcement and public awareness. “These initiatives, while symbolic, place the onus on consumers, rather than creating a systemic shift,” the report points out.
France’s leadership in regulating single-use plastics reflects an important step towards sustainability. However, the journey is far from complete.
As the country makes progress, experts suggest that focusing on holistic changes, such as promoting reuse and rethinking production models, will be key to achieving the 2040 targets.
“The current state of plastic regulation in France” was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a brand owned by GlobalData.
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