Packaging for France: recycling and environmental claims

Mandatory waste sorting mention on all household packaging.

France implemented the anti-waste law for a circular economy (Agec) in 2020, which introduced Article 17 and decree no. 2021-835 as the legal foundation for providing consumer information about the waste sorting label.

Starting from January 1, 2022, it is mandatory to include information about waste sorting on all household packaging (including cosmetic packaging), as well as the so-called Triman logo. This legal amendment is specific to France. More information can be found here.

Triman logo

The exact appearance of the logo depends on the type of packaging and can be found on page 31 of the PDF linked here. If a package consists of different components (e.g., primary and secondary), you are required to indicate the waste sorting type for each component.

This requirement also applies to cosmetic products that are sold in multiple countries, including France.

It is also possible to include an international logo (in addition to the French logo) on the packaging. Refer to page 51 of the PDF for more information.

France's claims regulation

On May 1, 2022, France introduced Decree 2022-748, which implemented an immediate ban on certain environmental claims, including 'biodegradable,' 'environmentally friendly,' 'plastic-free,' and similar claims. This ban applies to both the products themselves and their packaging. Products and packaging that already carry these environmental claims and were placed on the French market before April 30 can still be sold until January 1, 2023.
However, it is important to note that the prohibition on marketing products and packaging with these claims came into effect on May 1, one day after the publication of the decree. Decree 2022-748 is the official implementation of Article 13 of the AGEC law, specifically Article 541-223.