The move aims to make France more sustainable and environment friendly
In order to phase-out single use plastic by 2040, the President of France – Emmanuel Macron has announced a ban on plastic packaging of 30 fruits and vegetables.
The new rule comes into effect from today, i.e., January 1, 2022. The move aims to make France more sustainable and environment friendly. More than 1/3rd of fruit and vegetable products in France are sold in plastic wrapping. The Government believes that ban could help prevent a billion items of single use plastics being used every year.
Cucumbers, lemons, oranges, bananas, pears, kiwis, peppers, courgettes, aubergines and leeks are among the 30 varieties banned from being wrapped in plastic. Larger packs of 1.5 kgs. as well as chopped or processed fruit are exempted from the list. Some varieties, including cherry tomatoes or soft fruits such as raspberries and blueberries, will be given longer time for producers to find alternatives to plastic. Plastic packaging will be gradually phased out for all whole fruits and vegetables by 2026.
Terming the move as “real revolution”, Macron said that France will replace plastic with other materials or reusable and recyclable packaging. The ban is a part of Macron’s multi-year programme that aims to phase-out plastic from many industries. Besides, France has already banned plastic straws, cups and cutlery, as well as polystyrene takeaway boxes since 2021.
In a statement announcing the new law, the Environment Ministry said that France uses an “outrageous amount” of single use plastics and that the new ban “aims at cutting back the use of throwaway plastic and boost its.”
This year, the Government will also make it compulsory for public spaces to provide water fountains to reduce the use of plastic bottles, publications will have to be shipped without plastic wrapping and fast-food restaurants will no longer be able offer free plastic toys. However, industry bodies have expressed concerns over the speed at which the new ban is being introduced.
Philippe Binard, from the European Fresh Produce Association said, “The removal of plastic packaging from most fruit and vegetables at such short notice does not allow alternatives to be tested and introduced in a timely manner and stocks of existing packaging to be cleared.”
Separately, Macron has also called for several other new environmental regulations, including rules calling on car adverts to promote greener alternatives such as walking and cycling.
Several other European countries have announced similar bans in recent months as they work to adhere to the commitments made at the recent COP26 conference in Glasgow. Earlier in December 2021, Spain had also announced a ban on the sale of fruit and vegetables in plastic packaging from 2023 to allow business to find alternative solutions.
