the end of plastic packaging for fruits and vegetables is struggling to be established

The law was passed in 2022 and was due to come into force last June, but producers and manufacturers were given six additional months to sell off their stocks.

Despite the ban since Monday January 1 on plastic packaging of fruits and vegetables, you only need to look more closely at the shelves to find peppers sold by two or three in plastic bags. And when we ask customers if they see a change in the supermarket, the verdict is clear. “When it comes to vegetables, I find that there is even more plastic than for fruits,” testifies a customer. “Yes there are peppers, salads, carrots… there are quite a few things”replies another.

Carrots, in fact, are one of the 29 products that escape this new rule. In this list, we also find early potatoes, endives or even salads and raspberry-type berries because these foods are considered too fragile. Producers and manufacturers have therefore achieved that they can be left in plastic bags. An argument that some consumers do not understand. “Plastic is far too present, considers a passerby. It’s certain that the more we limit, the better.” “No, that’s rubbish, it doesn’t preserve anything at all. It makes them rot faster.” retorts a lady.

Italy slows down measures at European level

This modified decree comes into force six months late according to Manon Richert, the communications manager of the Zero Waste France association, who considers that the government has given in to the plastic lobbies. “As it stands, the list of exemptions is far too long, she explains. This will not make it possible to achieve the objective of zero single-use plastic by 2040, nor even the intermediate level in 2025, of a 20% reduction. According to the environmental association, it is therefore impossible in these conditions to achieve the objectives.

And this measure is already in danger because it has been called into question by the European Parliament. One country in particular is leading the rebellion against France: “Italy believes that it has invested enormously in recycling capacities and does not wish to reverse its investments”, relates Manon Richert. The battle over plastic must resume this month in Brussels.