All plastic cups, cutlery and plates will need to be designed to be compostable in France according to a new law, which comes into effect in 2020. The recently passed legislation has already ignited some debate in terms of what it means within the EU context. At the very least it represents a significant piece of policy in the broader conversation around plastics, the need for more consistency and the growth of an effective after-use economy.
The law is part of France’s Energy Transition for Green Growth, a plan designed as part of the country’s strategy to tackle climate change. Legislation introduced will mean that all plastic cups, cutlery and plates sold will need to be compostable. It could have a significant impact in a country, where nearly five billion plastic cups are sold annually (less than 2% are recycled).
95% of plastics material value is currently lost after just one use, according to the New Plastics Economy report, which was published by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and World Economic Forum, with analysis from McKinsey and Company Global Consulting in January 2016. The report, which focused on plastic packaging, found that despite 40 years of effort, only 14% was collected for recycling at all, and 32% leaks directly into the environment and natural systems, where it can remain for hundreds of years.
Off of the back of this report, the New Plastics Economy initiative was launched bringing together corporations, NGOs, governments and education institutions to re-think the design of the plastics system.
In the plastics sector, both in terms of business and policy, there are plenty of examples of individual innovations and actions designed to tackle the challenges relating to plastics. This move by the French government has already been questioned, in particular as it relates to the EU and rules around the free movement of goods.
Moreover, while bio-based alternatives are viewed as preferential to the current fossil fuel sourced materials, the correct conditions are required for effective composting. The whole system perspective still needs to be taken into account from effective production through to usage and re-utilisation. It’ll be interesting to see how the picture continues to develop, and whether, when implemented, the impacts that this legislation has from both an economic and environmental perspective.
Source: France bans plastic cups, plates and cutlery
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