A new law banning the use of plastic packaging on most fruits and vegetables took effect in France from New Year’s Day.
President Emmanuel Macron called the ban “a real revolution” and stated that the country is committed to phasing out single-use plastics by 2040.
More than a third of French fruit and vegetable products are believed to be sold in plastic packaging. Government officials believe that this ban can prevent the use of 1 billion single-use plastic products each year.
In a statement announcing the new law, the Ministry of Environment stated that France uses “a large amount” of single-use plastics and that the new ban “is designed to reduce the use of single-use plastics and promote the substitution of other materials or reusable and recyclable plastics. Packaging. “.
The ban is part of a multi-year plan launched by the Macron government that will gradually reduce plastic products in many industries.
From 2021, the country has banned the use of plastic straws, cups and cutlery, as well as polystyrene takeaway boxes.
By late 2022, public places will be forced to provide drinking fountains to reduce the use of plastic bottles, publications will have to be transported without plastic packaging, and fast food restaurants will no longer provide free plastic toys.
However, industry insiders expressed concern about the speed of the new ban.
Philippe Binard from the European Fresh Produce Association said, “In such a short period of time, most fruits and vegetables are removed from plastic packaging, it is impossible to test and introduce substitutes in time, and it is impossible to clean up the existing packaging. in stock”.
In recent months, several other European countries have announced similar bans as they are fulfilling their commitments made at the recent COP26 meeting in Glasgow.
Earlier this month, Spain announced that it would ban the sale of plastic-packaged fruits and vegetables from 2023 to allow companies to find alternative solutions.
The Macron government also announced several other new environmental regulations, including regulations calling for car advertising to promote more environmentally friendly alternatives such as walking and cycling.
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Post time: Jan-05-2022