France to ban single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables

The French government recently announced that from January 1, 2022, most categories of fruits and vegetables will no longer be packaged in single-use plastics
.
That's under an anti-waste law voted last year that aims to create a circular economy by phasing out single-use plastics by 2040
.

Packaging of fruits such as apples, pears, bananas, oranges, tangerines, kiwis and vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, potatoes, eggplants, cucumbers will be affected
.
In order to give businesses a buffer time, the anti-waste law also delays the implementation of beans, spinach and other varieties that are easily perishable in the air, until June 2026 at the latest
.

The French government says the ban is expected to cut 1 billion packages a year
.
It is estimated that 37% of fresh fruit and vegetables in France are currently packaged in plastic
.

According to sources, further changes to the anti-waste law are expected in 2022, including the removal of non-biodegradable plastic packaging and Chinese herbal medicine packaging from supermarket shelves in France
.