Beginning with January 1, 2022, the French authorities introduced a ban on the use of plastic packaging for a range of fruits and vegetables, to the dismay of the sector’s stakeholders.
Nevertheless, the entire legislative package will not fully come into force until 2026, allowing the market players to adapt, including on the sale of red fruits considered fragile. Six months have also been granted to use up existing plastic packaging stocks.
“We were never consulted,” complained Laurent Grandin, head of the fruit and vegetable sector’s Interfel association, according to AFP. He added that the costs were “insurmountable” for small companies who would have to keep using plastic to protect exports, notably to Britain, a major client for apples.
Big supermarket group Casino mentioned it would now sell tomatoes in cardboard packaging and provide customers with paper or cellulose bags.
The packaging companies say the October 8 decree caught them by surprise, particularly the ban on recycled plastics.
“We have client firms… who will have to stop their fruit and vegetable packing activity, even though they have been working on alternatives using less plastic or recycled plastic for several years,” Elipso association that represents manufacturers recently stated.
