France to ban plastic wrapped produce by 2026 – what you need to know

In a move to safeguard the environment from harmful waste, France is banning plastic packaging from fruits and veggies from January 2022.

French consumers will see 30 fruits and vegetables that are usually wrapped, sold without plastic from January 1 next year.

Leeks, Aubergines, round tomatoes, apples, bananas and oranges are among the foods on the list.

“We use an outrageous amount of single-use plastic in our daily lives,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The circular economy law aims at cutting back the use of throwaway plastic and boost its substitution by other materials or reusable and recyclable packaging.”

Around 37 percent of produce is sold with packaging, with this new measure expected to cut more than one billion plastic packages annually.

The law was first published on the 11 February 2020 by the official French Gazette.

It will only apply to products that weigh less than 1.5kg and have a slow deterioration rate.

Branding stickers will also be banned under the new law, except those that are manufactured with compostable materials or are recyclable.

Mixed views

While most consumers and farmers support protecting the environment, many are concerned that the removal of wrapping from some products will deplete the product’s preservation and presentation.

French fruit sellers federation president Francois Roch said switching to cardboard will be difficult and removing plastic may pose a health risk.

“Selling loose produce is complicated as many customers touch the fruit and people do not want their fruit to be touched by other customers.”

Farmers and fresh produce stockists have a five year grace period, before non-biodegradable wrapping from all fruits and vegetables are banned for good.

The law doesn’t only apply to French producers but to all farmers selling their products in France.

Here’s the timeline

By mid-2023, plastic wrapping will be removed from cherry tomatoes, green beans and peaches.

Endives, asparagus, mushrooms, some salads, herbs and cherries will also move to biodegradable packaging by 2024.

Raspberries, strawberries and other delicate berries will be seen safely packaged in plastic containers until mid 2026, six months before plastic is phased out for good.

The ban to unsustainable packaging on fresh produce is just one step of a multi-stage government program to phase out plastic waste.

It’s now illegal to stock plastic straws, cups and cutlery, as well as styrofoam takeaway products.

In even tougher restrictions, French companies and services must provide water fountains to reduce plastic bottles and must ship publications without wrapping.

In time, restaurants will also no longer be allowed to offer throwaway cutlery and free plastic toys.

Written by Rebecca Borg