A ban on the use of plastic in the packaging of a range of fruits and vegetables came into force on Saturday in France, setting off alarms from the packaging industry in the sector.
For a long time environmentalists have campaigned against single-use plastic as pollution worsens worldwide, while President Emmanuel Macron backed the move, defending a pragmatic approach.
For example, the October decree concerns the sale of fewer than 1.5 kilograms of apples. But, full regulation will not be come into effect until 2026, allowing businesses to adapt, including regarding the sale of red fruits considered fragile. Six months were also given to exhaust the available stocks of plastic packaging.