France urges public to adopt green habits with bans on plastic

PARIS, France: From 2022, French consumers will be encouraged to adopt more environmentally friendly habits as part of new regulations promoted by President Emmanuel Macron's government, aimed at reducing pollution and the impact of automobiles on greenhouse gas emissions.

Leeks and carrots, tomatoes and potatoes, apples and pears and about 30 other items will no longer be sold with plastic wrappings, but wrapped in other recyclable materials. However, plastic will still be allowed for more fragile fruits, such as berries and peaches, but even these coverings will be gradually banned in the coming years.

The government says the new regulation is expected to eliminate about 1 billion items of plastic waste per year.

Magazines and other publications will also need to be shipped without plastic wrapping, and fast-food restaurants will no longer be allowed to offer free plastic toys to children.

Also, in the coming year, French car advertising will be required to include a message encouraging people to consider green transportation.

According to a decree published this week, the new regulation will apply to ads on television, radio, newspapers, billboards and online. Advertisers who do not comply will face a fine of up to 50,000 euros ($56,652) per ad.

Similar mandatory messages have already been part of ads for processed foods since 2007 in France, which include wording such as, "For your health, avoid eating too fatty, too sweet, too salty."

Also in 2022, French phone operators and internet providers will be requested to communicate to their customers an estimate of greenhouse gas emissions generated by their activity online and usage of mobile phones.