The green transition in France will also mean that space must be dedicated to selling bulk or ‘on tap’ foods in supermarkets. Aiming to cut down on the use of single-use packaging by reducing its quantities at both the production and disposal stages. (1)
Another good example from Paris, where the loi EGalim also ensures the economic sustainability of the agrifood supply chain (with effective countering of unfair trade practices) and the NutriScore promotes the nutritional safety of food.
Bulk foods in supermarkets, green light in France
The draft framework law on climate and resilience(projet de loi Climat et Résilience, promoted by Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili, aspires to improve the lives of French people under the aegis of sustainability. Privileging inland transportation by rail over air, banning advertising to fossil fuels, incentives to improve the energy performance of buildings, and various other measures.
Among other things, all French supermarkets with a sales area of more than 400 square meters will have to equip at least 20 percent of the store with bulk food spaces and dispensers by 2030 ( Consommer chapter, Article 11). The bill, already approved in the House on first reading on 4.5.21, is expected for a final vote in June 2021. (2)
Reusable packaging
The Consumer Code defines ‘bulk’ as all consumer products for everyday use that are not pre-packaged, available to consumers in their chosen quantities, in reusable or refillable packaging. Reusable packaging, whether offered by retailers or brought from home by consumers, is also the subject of special provisions.
‘The bill stipulates that the responsibility for the hygiene of the containers is the responsibility of their owners and that the retailer can refuse to use them if doubts arise about their hygienic condition. This measure also applies to food not consumed in restaurants or other food service establishments‘, explains Silvia Ricci of the Association of Virtuous Municipalities, one of the leading experts on packaging and the circular economy.
Reusable water bottles (or cups)
‘Another interesting measure in the bill is the requirement for take-away beverage retailers to reduce the price when the drink is served in reusable containers brought by consumers. This incentive measure of reusable containers was favored by the French legislature over prescribing an increase in the price of products sold in single-use containers’.
A win-win solution that is both beneficial to consumers – who achieve a small ‘reward’ for using reusable water bottles (or cups) – and to public merchants, who save on plastic tax and management of single-use containers (or the dishes) after they are used.
Bulk foods, a small market in big growth
The bulk food sales sector in France is small but shows promising growth. very positive. In just 5 years, ‘Zéro Déchet‘ (zero waste) stores have increased from about 20 to 700.
Business volume in 2020 reached 1.3 billion. And it is estimated to reach 3.2 billion euros in 2022, despite the closures imposed in the repeated lockdowns (forecasts by Nielsen and Réseau Vrac, the French association of 1,800 bulk traders).
GDO, reorganization underway
The vibrancy of demand has not yet been fully grasped by all retailers. Some, such as Carrefour or Intermarché, have already organized with ‘on tap’ areas. Many others are behind and find it burdensome to have to set up and maintain the new bulk shelves, as well as train employees, by the legal deadline.
Adapting the point of sale to the provisions of the ddl is actually not easy for some establishments. According to the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, the sale of bulk food alone now accounts for between 1 and 3 percent of products sold in French stores larger than 400 square meters.
In addition to foods (cereals, dried fruits, etc.) sold with ‘on tap’ dispensers, fruits and vegetables, as well as wine (on tap), linens, and household products are fully included. The more departments there are, the easier it is to achieve that 20 percent bulk sale demanded by the dl. Which must be conducted, as a matter of course, in full compliance with the rules on consumer protection and product safety.
Bulk foods at the supermarket
The Emballages website reports widespread irregularities in the sale of bulk foods. In fact, the 2020 report on inspections of official public controls(Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes) indicates that non-compliance was contested in 46 percent of the establishments inspected. 756 out of 1,658 including supermarkets, organic stores, grocery stores, 100 percent ‘on tap’ stores, hawkers.
A total of 656 warnings, 98 injunctions, 15 reports of crime and 2 administrative proceedings were served in 2020. Violations included consumer information (organic certification, price display, origin and provenance labeling), anomalies in quantities sold, failure to comply with establishment and food hygiene rules (traceability, self-control, temperature compliance, suitability of food contact materials).
Ecological transition in France
‘The proposed ‘climate and resilience’ bill contains interesting insights that-even if not taken up entirely-are bound to find expression in the facts anyway, without the need to wait 10 years.
‘There is a ferment in civil society with respect to wanting to move away from consumption patterns based on consumerism that can only grow‘ (Silvia Ricci).
Food packaging and plastics in Italy
In Italy, the ‘climate decree’ (converted into Law No. 229, Dec. 15, 2016) had introduced non-refundable tax subsidies for the sale of bulk products. (3) But then the saga of extensions to the application of the Plastic Tax began. 1.1.20 to 1.10.20 in the government led by Giuseppe Conte, until 1.1.22 under Mario Draghi. (4)
Plastic packaging used in the agribusiness supply chain expresses 76 percent of total consumption in Italy. The recycling rate of this material is estimated at 46 percent, 41 percent at the EU level (5.6), while microplastics have already reached watersheds and human placentas (7.8). But the presidents of Federalimentare and Coldiretti applaud yet another postponement of the plastic tax, with no alternative proposal. (9)
Is the ecological transition up to posterity or to the brains fleeing this poor Italy dominated by lobbies lacking strategy?
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
Notes
(1) V. L’Assemblée nationale adopte le projet de loi Climat et résilience https://www.gouvernement.fr/l-assemblee-nationale-adopte-le-projet-de-loi-climat-et-resilience
2) The Climate and Resilience Bill has 69 articles divided into 6 major chapters. V. https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/loi-climat-resilience
(3) Dario Dongo. Climate decree, incentives for sale of bulk and draught products. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 12/13/19, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/mercati/decreto-clima-incentivi-alla-vendita-di-prodotti-sfusi-e-alla-spina
(4) No plastic tax on the food supply chain: businesses and farmers applaud. Il Sole 24 Ore. 3.5.20, https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/niente-plastic-tax-filiera-alimentare-plaudono-imprese-e-agricoltori-AEFvOrF
(5) Marta Strinati. Waste recycling, where do we stand. The 2020 Report. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 10.12.20, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/mercati/riciclo-dei-rifiuti-a-che-punto-siamo-il-rapporto-2020
(6) Dario Dongo. Plastic in packaging and agriculture, a trouble for environment and health. EU Court of Auditors report. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 26.1.21, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/idee/plastica-in-imballaggi-e-in-agricoltura-un-guaio-per-ambiente-e-salute-rapporto-della-corte-dei-conti-ue
(7) Dario Dongo, Sabrina Bergamini. Microplastics in the water of Italian lakes, the silent emergency. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 5.7.20, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/sicurezza/microplastiche-nell-acqua-dei-laghi-italiani-l-emergenza-silenziosa
(8) Marta Strinati. Microplastics in the human placenta. The discovery of Italian researchers. 11.12.20, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/microplastiche-nella-placenta-umana-la-scoperta-di-ricercatori-italiani
(9) Dario Dongo, Luca Foltran. PlasticTax and reuse, Italian diatribes and examples in Europe. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 4.11.19, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/imballaggi/plastictax-e-riutilizzo-diatribe-italiane-ed-esempi-in-europa
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
