France will ban plastic packaging for almost all fruits and vegetables from January 2022, in a bid to reduce plastic waste, the environment ministry announced today.
Implementing a law passed in February 2020, the government has released a list of about 20 fruits and vegetables that should be sold without plastic packaging from January 1. The list includes leeks, eggplants, tomatoes, apples, bananas and oranges.
"We use extravagant quantities of disposable plastics in our daily lives. "The law of the circular economy aims to reduce the use of plastic that ends up in waste and its replacement with other materials or with reusable and recyclable packaging," the ministry said in a statement.
37% of fruits and vegetables are sold packaged
The French government estimates that 37% of fruit and vegetables are sold packaged and expects this measure to reduce junk plastic packaging by about 1 billion a year.
François Ross, president of the Federation of Fresh Fruit Sellers, said the transition to paper packaging would be difficult in such a short time. "Also, selling unpackaged products is a complex issue, as many customers grab the fruit and people do not want others to touch it," he explained.
France has launched a multi-annual program to eliminate plastics. As of this year, plastic straws, glasses and cutlery, as well as styrofoam food boxes, have been banned.
Sliced fruits and some delicate products will continue to be sold packaged in plastic for the time being, but this phase will also end in June 2026. Plastic packaging will be banned until the end of June 2023 for tomatoes, beans and peaches and by the end of 2024 for endives, asparagus, mushrooms, some salads and herbs as well as cherries. From the end of June 2026 onwards, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries should also be sold without plastic.
From 2022 there should be water coolers in public places to limit the use of plastic bottles. Newspapers, magazines and leaflets will be sent without a wrapper, while fast food restaurants will no longer be able to donate plastic toys.
in.gr