The French government has launched a consultation for a draft decree focused on implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for professional packaging, a move anticipated to advance sustainable waste management across the country. This EPR expansion will complement the established household packaging EPR program, aiming to cover packaging used by professionals by January 2025.

This consultation follows the AGEC law (French anti-waste law), aligning France with the European Directive on packaging waste. The professional packaging sector contributes over 8 million tonnes annually, thus making it a significant focus for new regulatory measures.

The government has identified the need for clearer boundaries between EPR programs for different types of packaging, as demonstrated by issues that arose during the initial implementation for catering packaging.

The scope of the decree encompasses a wide array of packaging types, particularly targeting those used in catering and other commercial applications. These regulations are designed to streamline waste collection and ensure that packaging from various sectors is effectively recycled or reused.

• January 2023 Start: EPR for catering packaging started in early 2023, revealing areas for improvement in regulatory boundaries.
• Impact: New measures aim to address France's substantial packaging waste, 61% of which comes from professional sectors.
• EU Compliance: Aligns with EU mandates for comprehensive EPR systems for all packaging.

This consultation represents France’s commitment to advancing a circular economy model by involving stakeholders to shape these regulations effectively, ensuring a structured, waste-minimizing approach to professional packaging.