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FRANCE: Senate approves new non-food waste ban
by Modem – Posted October 01 2019
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French Senate warns the luxury sector it can no longer destroy unsold items since the approval on September 27th of the legislation banning the destruction of unsold non-food objects such as cosmetics, clothing, shoes, textiles, electronics and other products including luxury products.

Brune Poirson, French ecological transition minister says the new legislation will help prevent almost a billion euros worth of unsold non-food items being thrown away or destroyed every year in France. In 2016, France enacted a law banning supermarkets from throwing away unsold food, obliging supermarkets to give it to charity. This has led to a 30 per cent rise in charity food donations.

The Fashion industry, in which France is a world leader, wastes 100 million tons produced per year worldwide. Why? Because brands retain label exclusivity. In the end, {{only one per cent is recycled. As part of a wider “anti-waste and circular economy” bill, the majority Right-wing senate will oblige producers, importers or distributors - including online ones - to either re-use or donate unsold non-food items, except those that pose a health or security risk.

The government has promised unspecified “concessions” for luxury players, designed to help protect intellectual property. “However it will no longer be possible to bleach an item of clothing to render it unusable before destroying it,” said Brune Poirson .

The bill, which will pass between 2021 and 2023, also includes the creation of a “repairability index” for products. France’s upper house of parliament also bolstered draft legislation by introducing a fine of €3,000 for a physical person and €15,000 for a legal entity for failure to comply.

More info @ Ministère de La Transition Ecologique et Solidaire

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