‍

The French law "Loi Anti-gaspillage pour une économie circulaire" (AGEC Law) is a comprehensive anti-waste and circular economy law that aims to reduce waste and promote sustainability in France. It requires businesses to disclose information about their products' environmental qualities and characteristics to consumers, including recyclability, traceability, and the presence of hazardous substances.

‍

Key aspects of the AGEC Law:

Product information:

Companies must provide consumers with accessible information about products' environmental qualities and characteristics, such as recyclability, re-usability, and the presence of hazardous substances. This information can be provided through digital product sheets, QR codes, or other accessible methods.

Extended producer responsibility:

The law extends producer responsibility to cover the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle, from production to disposal.

Circular economy principles:

The AGEC Law promotes the circular economy by encouraging the reuse and recycling of materials, and by discouraging single-use plastics and planned obsolescence.

Specific requirements:

The law includes specific requirements for various industries, such as the textile industry, which may include regulations on traceability, microfibres, and the use of recycled materials.

Enforcement:

The AGEC Law is enforced by various government agencies and includes penalties for non-compliance.

‍

In essence, the AGEC Law aims to:

• Reduce waste and promote a circular economy in France.

• Provide consumers with better information to make informed choices about products and packaging.

• Encourage businesses to design and produce more sustainable products.

• Ensure that companies take responsibility for the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle.

For businesses operating in France, it is crucial to understand the requirements of the AGEC Law and comply with its provisions to avoid penalties and promote a more sustainable business mode.

‍

This session will help EOG members to anticipate the implications of this policy landscape and support the operationalisation of the legal requirements through building a shared understanding of the Loi AGEC and allow participants to plan to deploy internal capacity to meet future and current legal requirements.

During this session a brief introduction of the legislation (origin, rationale) will be presented as well as an overview of key requirements that will affect EOG’s members’ operations.

Including the following: Traceability disclosure, material disclosure, environmental claims, communication of the requirements, penalty and grace period, and timelines - (all associated material can be downloaded below.)