France’s push to cut down on single-use plastics is reshaping the packaging industry, with companies having to adapt to meet rising demand for eco-friendly materials, as new regulations take effect. While items such as plastic straws and takeaway containers are less prevalent now, non-food packaging remains heavily plastic-based – forcing businesses to innovate to comply with stricter rules.
“Many clients are aware of their carbon footprint, and they are already working on reducing it. So some of them tell me: no plastic, I don’t want to see any plastic, only paper,” says Raphael Bodaire, director of sales for Raja, Europe's largest packaging distributor. “They are aware not only of the laws, but they are also sensitive about the environment and their impact on it.”
This French company sells 1,200 different shapes of boxes for companies large and small to use for shipping their products, as well as the materials that go with them: tape, bubble wrap, cling film, crates...
These days both French and European rules and regulations are pushing the packaging industry to go green, which was evident at a recent trade fair at which Raja and other companies were showing their wares – at least a third were highlighting their sustainability credentials.
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The Lebhar Group, a small French company which produces paper-based food packaging, mostly for bakeries, was showing off an all-paper cake board – the card under a cake or pastry that makes it easier to lift and transport.
"In the bakery world, most often these boards are lined with plastic, because they protect against grease and humidity," sales manager Frederique Monge explained. "No one wants grease spots on their pastry boxes or display cases."
A few years ago the company developed an all-paper version, which can work as a barrier against humidity. But this has its limitations, notably in how it looks.
Pastry chefs, especially at higher-end bakeries, like to use golden or glossy black cake boards, which for now cannot be made without a plastic film. “The plastic-free solution does not allow for this kind of decoration," said Monge. "It is a more natural material, brown or white-coloured, and not shiny. It is less elegant."
So the company continues to offer both products. Packaging companies in general aim to offer multiple solutions to meet the vast range of customer needs and wants, which are informed by their own environmental awareness, as well as an awareness of changing laws and looming bans.
Rules and regulations
In order to reduce waste, France intends to phase out single-use packaging by 2040, pushing companies to reduce the amount of material in their packaging, switch to reusable containers or move towards recyclable or compostable materials.
France produces 2.2 million tonnes of plastic packaging a year, around half of which comes from households and half from industry.
A 2015 law has been progressively limiting single-use plastic food packaging, banning plastic straws and takeaway containers, among other things.
The 2021 Anti-waste for a circular economy (AGEC) law expanded on this ambition, and aims to phase out all single-use plastic packaging by 2040, with an initial aim of reducing it by 20 percent by 2025.
The EU position
However, the legal situation has led to some confusion in the industry. “Currently it is unclear, because things are going every which way," said François-Xavier Franssen, sales director for FDR Emballages, which makes plastic-free packaging.
Alongside French laws and regulations are rules from the European Union, which is seeking to reduce waste across the continent.
The EU's updated Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) directive came into force in February, and aims to harmonise packaging requirements across member states, with a target of 100 percent of packaging to be recyclable by 2030.
FDR makes compostable plastic film, initially developed 10 years ago and marketed to organic shops who used it to add clear windows to their paper bags.
Recent years have seen a growing interest – notably at the end of 2021, ahead of a ban of plastic wrapping for loose fruits and vegetables in supermarkets. "We received urgent calls then to replace the plastic wrappers," Franssen recalls.
Cost factor
While there has been a move towards reducing and recycling packaging, it is currently difficult to imagine a world where single-use plastics will disappear completely.
FDR’s compostable cling wrap is more expensive than its petroleum-based alternative, and while some customers are willing to pay more, until taxes increase on petroleum, Franssen says the cost will remain prohibitive for some.
Plus, his product doesn't work for everything – for now. “We do not have the equivalent for certain things, like chicory," he explained. "It's very problematic in terms of keeping the products fresh. They produce a lot of water, and are very sensitive to air and light."
Greenwashing
Beyond the law, companies themselves are increasingly aware of the need to reduce waste, and consumers are asking for products that have less of an environmental impact.
“Very often consumer expectations move faster than regulations, which is what we have seen in organic farming,” said Emilie Cherhal, general manager of Ecocert Greenlife, which gives certifications for organic products.
“Regulation is one option, because it pushes industries to really rethink their models," she said, but added that consumer expectations can be just as powerful a motivator, although they do want the assurance that comes from certification.
“Today anybody can say anything about eco-responsibility, sustainability – they can use the words," said Cherhal, who believes certifications, such as the ones Ecocert provides, help to avoid greenwashing.
Ecocert has recently become affiliated with RecyClass, a European certification which evaluates the recyclability of packaging, with grades from A to F. Cherhal says: "It is a guarantee to the consumer that if it is certified, they can be sure the environmental impact is less."
More on this story in the Spotlight on France podcast, episode 118 here.
