France’s push to cut down on single-use plastics is reshaping the packaging industry, with companies having to adapt to meet rising demand for eco-friendly materials, as new regulations take effect. While items such as plastic straws and takeaway containers are less prevalent now, non-food packaging remains heavily plastic-based – forcing businesses to innovate to comply with stricter rules.
“Many clients are aware of their carbon footprint, and they are already working on reducing it. So some of them tell me: no plastic, I don’t want to see any plastic, only paper,” says Raphael Bodaire, director of sales for Raja, Europe's largest packaging distributor. “They are aware not only of the laws, but they are also sensitive about the environment and their impact on it.”
