France is set to introduce a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for industrial and commercial packaging, known as the EIC (Emballages Industriels et Commerciaux), from 2026.
This regulatory shift marks a significant step towards sustainable packaging management, placing accountability on producers while fostering a circular economy for professional packaging waste.
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Businesses operating in France need to understand the implications to ensure compliance and optimise their packaging strategies.
Understanding the EIC packaging framework
The EIC regime builds on the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, requiring producers of industrial and commercial packaging to manage the end-of-life of their products.
Following a preparatory phase in 2023, including studies by ADEME, the regulatory framework has been refined through consultations led by France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and the DGPR.
The key objective is to separate professional packaging from household waste streams, ensuring that businesses contribute directly to collection, recycling, and recovery efforts.
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By GlobalDataProducers will have to register and report the types and volumes of packaging they place on the French market. Compliance may involve joining eco-organisations, developing individual systems, or participating in a coordinated organisational scheme.
This ensures that all stakeholders share responsibility for environmental impacts, promoting a more circular approach to packaging materials.
Compliance pathways for businesses
Companies subject to the EIC regime will face a structured compliance process. The upcoming legal texts, including the decree and implementation orders, define the roles of eco-organisations, individual systems, and the coordinating body.
By late 2025, businesses can expect the official publication of these rules, after which they must submit applications for approval or register with designated eco-organisations.
Meeting these requirements will involve accurate reporting of packaging types—ranging from cardboard and plastics to metals and mixed materials. Businesses may also need to implement new tracking, reporting, and recycling strategies.
For B2B operations, this regime encourages proactive engagement with supply chains, optimising packaging design to reduce environmental impact and potentially lowering costs linked to disposal and compliance.
Long-term benefits and strategic implications
While compliance introduces operational responsibilities, the EIC packaging regime offers long-term advantages for companies.
By aligning with France’s circular economy objectives, businesses can enhance their sustainability credentials, appeal to environmentally conscious clients, and mitigate risks associated with non-compliance penalties.
Furthermore, the scheme incentivises eco-design, reducing material use and facilitating recycling, which can create cost efficiencies and innovation opportunities in packaging development.
From a broader perspective, the EIC regime contributes to national and EU targets for packaging recovery and recycling, supporting sustainable business practices across industries.
Early adaptation and investment in compliance measures can position companies as leaders in responsible production, providing competitive advantage in both domestic and international markets.
