In an article published on August 13, 2018, news provider France 24 reported that the French government plans to introduce a bonus and penalty tax system for plastic packaging in 2019. Products with packaging made of recycled plastic could cost up to 10% less than products packaged in non-recycled plastic, Brune Poirson, France’s Secretary of State to the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, explained. “When non-recycled plastic will cost more, that will eliminate much of the excessive packaging,” she stated.
Emmanuel Guichard of France’s plastic and flexible packaging manufacturers association ELIPSO, commented: “For bottles, giving consumers a choice is possible. But we can’t forget other items — today there’s no recycled plastics available for yogurt pots.” Flore Berlingen of the non-governmental organization Zero Waste France added: “We’re hoping that companies play the game so that clients aren’t the ones penalized.”
Further, France intends to increase taxes on sending waste to landfills while decreasing taxes for recycling operations. Already in 2016, France banned single-use plastic bags and announced new rules for disposable plastic tableware that will apply from 2020 (FPF reported). Currently, the country recycles about 25% of its plastic waste and aims to recycle 100% of plastics by 2025, France 24 informed.
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France 24 (August 12, 2018). “France to set penalties on non-recycled plastic next year.”
Reuters (August 13, 2018). “France to make unrecycled plastic bottles more expensive.“
