AFP – Paris. The ban on the use of plastic for packaging fruits and vegetables, voted on in October 2021, came into force on Saturday in France, to the dismay of the sector's packaging industry.

Environmentalists have long campaigned against single-use plastics as pollution worsens around the world, while President Emmanuel Macron backed the move by advocating a "pragmatic" approach.

However, the complete legislation will not be applied until 2026, which will allow companies to adapt, even to the sale of berries, considered fragile.

Six months have also been given to run out of plastic packaging stocks.

"We were never consulted," complained Laurent Grandin, head of the Interfel association for the fruit and vegetable sector. As he told AFP , the costs are "insurmountable" for small companies, which will have to continue to use plastic to protect exports, especially to Great Britain, one of the main apple customers.

The Pomanjou company, which produces up to 40,000 tonnes of apples a year in the Loire Valley, introduced 100% cardboard packaging in the last three years. However, packaging costs have soared between 20% and 30%, according to its representative, Arnaud de Puineuf.

For its part, the large group of supermarkets Casino said that it will now sell tomatoes in cardboard containers and provide customers with paper or cellulose bags.

Packaging companies note that the decree of October 8 took them by surprise, especially the ban on recycled plastics.