France Delays Plastic Bag Ban Again

France’s environment ministry has once again postponed its deadline for removing thin plastic bags thinner than 50 microns from the market.

It is the third deadline extension this year for the phase-out, which was initially planned to take effect on Jan. 1 and subsequently extended to Apr. 1. Retail outlets now have until July 1 to comply.

Environment minister Ségolène Royal said bag manufacturers and the industry in general need more time to make the necessary adjustments, which means switching to biodegradable bags.

In future, bags handed out in shops will have to comply with the French standard for home composting. Initially this would require having a renewable content of at least 30%. By 2018 the minimum standard is planned to be raised to 40%, by 2020 to 50% and by 2025 to 60%.

The law will at first allow light plastic bags for fruits and vegetables and fish or meat. These, however, are to be phased out from 2017 in favor of bags made of biodegradable components, including potato starch.