France weighs rollback of anti-waste rules, raising concern across packaging sector

FRANCE – Environmental organizations and industry stakeholders are voicing concern that proposed legal amendments under review in France could weaken some of the country’s most ambitious anti-waste and plastic reduction measures.

These measures could potentially reshaping compliance expectations for packaging producers and retailers.

The debate emerged in early February 2026 as French senators began examining amendments to the Projet de loi DDADUE, a government bill intended to align national legislation with evolving European Union rules.

Campaigners warn that several proposals could dilute existing restrictions on single-use plastics, reversing progress made under France’s landmark anti-waste framework.

Surfrider Foundation Europe has flagged amendments that would permit plastic bottles to return to school canteens and sporting venues, while others could ease limits on disposable packaging in public spaces.

According to the group, such changes risk undermining investments already made by businesses in reusable packaging systems and alternative materials.

France’s current policy backbone, the loi AGEC (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Law), was adopted in 2020 and sets out a roadmap to eliminate single-use plastic packaging by 2040.

The law introduced extended producer responsibility obligations, reuse targets, and stricter reporting requirements that have shaped packaging design and material choices across the market.

While the DDADUE bill is positioned as a technical alignment exercise with EU law, environmental groups argue that harmonization should not result in weaker national standards.

The concern is particularly acute as the EU’s forthcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) establishes bloc-wide requirements on recyclability, waste reduction and reuse, while still allowing member states to maintain stricter measures.

For packaging manufacturers and brand owners, France’s direction matters beyond its borders. As one of Europe’s largest consumer markets, French regulation often acts as a bellwether for wider industry trends.

Any softening of rules could influence long-term investment decisions around reusable packaging infrastructure, material innovation and compliance planning.

Parallel to the national debate, Zero Waste France has called on municipalities to take a more active role in reducing single-use plastics ahead of the 2026 local elections.

In a newly released policy brief, the organization highlights local authorities’ control over canteens, events, markets and procurement as powerful levers to cut disposable packaging.

The report notes that France’s plastic consumption remains high at around 70kg per person annually, with recycling rates lagging behind waste generation.

It argues that recycling alone is insufficient and that reuse-focused policies, particularly at the local level, are critical to meeting national and EU targets.

The French Senate is expected to continue deliberations later this month, leaving businesses, municipalities and sustainability advocates watching closely for signals on the future trajectory of one of Europe’s most influential anti-waste regimes.

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