France has issued a new decree tightening national rules on packaging and recycling, expanding producer obligations and strengthening oversight of how packaging waste is collected, sorted and recovered.

The measure, published in the Journal Officiel, forms part of France’s wider effort to reduce waste and support a circular economy.

EPR widened to professional packaging

The decree expands France’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) system to cover “professional” packaging — packaging used in business settings rather than only by households.

From early 2026, companies that place such packaging on the French market must finance or organise its collection, reuse and recycling.

Approved eco-organisations will manage these tasks on behalf of producers and must follow new transparency and cost-efficiency rules.

The government also requires shared traceability tools to ensure clear oversight of where packaging waste goes, how it is treated and whether recycling targets are being met.

Stronger requirements on packaging design and reuse

France is also tightening expectations around packaging design to support higher recycling rates. The decree reinforces national policies promoting eco-designed packaging, reuse systems and clearer recyclability criteria.

Producers may face financial incentives or penalties depending on how recyclable or reusable their packaging is.

These national updates link with France’s existing “3R” targets — reducing, reusing and recycling packaging — including a requirement to cut single-use plastic packaging by 20% by the end of 2025.

The new rules are also aligned with incoming European regulations that set out recyclability thresholds and mandatory waste-reduction goals for all EU member states.

Increased monitoring and reporting for waste operators

The decree strengthens regulatory controls on waste-management operators handling packaging waste. Operators must provide more detailed reporting on sorting performance and treatment pathways, while producers remain responsible for their packaging waste even when external contractors are involved.

France has also updated its references to cross-border waste-shipment regulations, reflecting new EU rules governing international waste transfers. This ensures that packaging waste moved across borders is handled under the latest European standards.

France’s decision to broaden its EPR framework, tighten recyclability requirements and reinforce monitoring signals a clear shift towards more accountable and transparent packaging systems.

For businesses operating in or exporting to France, the changes will require closer attention to packaging materials, waste-handling arrangements and long-term compliance with both French and EU regulations.