The ban on the use of plastic to package fruits and vegetables in France, voted on in October 2021, came into effect this Saturday, although the full legislation will not apply until 2026, allowing companies to finish adapting.
Six months have also been given to run out of plastic packaging stocks, the AFP news agency recalled.
“We were never consulted,” complained Laurent Grandin, head of the Interfel association for the fruit and vegetable sector.
The costs are “insurmountable” for small businesses, Grandin told AFP, which will have to continue to use plastic to protect exports, especially to Great Britain, one of the main apple customers.
The Pomanjou company, which produces up to 40,000 tonnes of apples a year in the Loire Valley, introduced 100% cardboard packaging in the last three years.
However, packaging costs have soared between 20% and 30%, according to its representative, Arnaud de Puineuf.
For its part, the large group of supermarkets Casino said that it will now sell tomatoes in cardboard containers and provide customers with paper or cellulose bags.
Packaging companies note that the decree of October 8 took them by surprise, especially the ban on recycled plastics.
