What is The AGEC Law for France? 📰

The anti-waste law for a circular economy. An introduction.  

When?

The Law came into force on 01.01.2020 for all producers, importers, and distributors of waste-generating consumer products in France.

On 01.01.2023 new measures applying more specifically to the fashion and textile industry will come into play, and the threshold to meet the requirements will then lower each year more.

01.01.2023 -> companies with >50M€  & 25K units

01.01.2024 -> companies with >20M€  & 10K units

01.01.2025 -> companies with >10M€  & 10K units

Why? 

The objective of the legislation is to break the model of a linear economy (extract, manufacture, consume, throw away) and adopt a “circular” economic model based on:

  ✔ eco-design of products

  ✔ responsible consumption

  ✔ extension of shelf life

  ✔ recycling of products and waste.

What? 

The Law is anchored around five major areas of action:

1. .Elimination of single-use plastics by 2040
2. Achievement of a better flow of information to consumers
3. Fight against waste
4. More responsible production
5. Action against planned obsolescence

The decree changes the obligations of companies on several important points (environmental labeling, detail of chemical substances, etc.). This will lead to a significant number of new constraints for companies, and failure to meet obligations could be met with various sanctions and administrative fines.

How?  

In order to fulfill these obligations, companies must collect and analyze data specific to their products and value chains. Traceability is therefore also essential.

✔ Collect important data on recycled materials; plastic microfibers, recyclability, traceability

✔ Display Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) based on life cycle analyses. ie/ PEF must be measured and displayed, with data based on certain impact categories across the entire product life cycle.

⚖️Which articles are most relevant for fashion & textile companies?

Article 13
The “Consumer Information Article"

Article 15
The “Product Environmental Footprint Article"

Learn more about the law and how retraced can help in the comprehensive guidebook below