Welcome to Higginson Strategy’s weekly round-up of international news relating to plastic pollution.
This week, France has voted to limit the production and sale of items containing PFAS, including cosmetics and clothing. After a successful lawsuit by environmental NGOs, Danone, a multinational food and beverage company, has been ordered to publish data on its plastics footprint each year. Politicians in the Netherlands have voted to lift the national surcharge on single-use plastic packaging. A report by SAP and EA Earth Action reveals that corporate inaction on plastic pollution poses a significant risk to profits. Finally, a two year in-store refillable packaging trial with Aldi UK concluded with refilled products consistently rivalling sales of the single-use packaged alternatives.
France adopts ambitious law on PFAS
France’s parliament has voted to limit the production and sale of some items containing polluting and health-threatening “forever chemicals” including cosmetics, most clothing and ski wax. Chronic exposure to even low levels of the chemicals which are also often used in plastic has been linked to liver damage, high cholesterol, reduced immune responses, low birthweights and several kinds of cancer.
The French bill aims to prevent the production, import or sale from January 2026 of any product for which an alternative to PFAS already exists and will make French authorities regularly test drinking water for all kinds of PFAS. A ban on non-stick saucepans was originally included in the draft law but removed after intense lobbying from the group that owns French manufacturer Tefal.
Read more here.
Danone agrees to publish plastic footprint and risks after landmark legal challenge
In January 2023, environmental law firm ClientEarth, in partnership with NGOs Zero Waste France and Surfrider, took Danone to court arguing that the multinational food and drink company flouted its requirements under the French Duty of Vigilance law, which requires large businesses to publish ‘vigilance’ plans each year, setting out the environmental and social risks and impacts of their operations, suppliers and subcontractors.
Following Danone’s refute of the lawsuit, a Paris Tribunal Judiciaire ordered the company to enter into mediation with ClientEarth. This process has resulted in an agreement for Danone to update its calculations on risks relating to plastics, reflecting this in an updated vigilance plan, publish data on its plastics footprint each year and strengthen a policy for mitigating and preventing the risks associated with the use of plastic, which should detail plans for scaling reuse solutions.
Read more here.
Netherlands considers lifting single-use plastic packaging surcharge
A majority of the Netherlands’ House of Representatives wants to lift the national surcharge on single-use plastic packaging, claiming it has not led to a decrease in plastic waste. Around 19 million items of plastic food packaging are thought to be discarded by Dutch consumers every day.
A single-use levy was imposed across the Netherlands in 2023 making foodservice and retail outlets charge extra for plastic packaging and containers, however, establishments are permitted to determine their own prices, with most supermarkets said to charge only £0.01 for all packaging types. From 1st January 2026, a mandatory surcharge of £0.25 per container is set to apply. Businesses have criticised this fixed rate as being too high and running the risk of scaring consumers away.
Read more here.
Corporate inaction on plastic pollution poses a significant risk to profits – Report
A report from SAP and Earth Action warns that corporate inaction on plastic pollution poses a significant risk to profits, with plastic liabilities likely to exceed £20bn globally by 2030. The report shows risks including regulatory changes like plastic bans and EPR fees that increase costs, market shifts driven by evolving consumer preferences and stakeholder pressures, and rising R&D expenses to adapt to new technologies.
To ‘myth bust’ a variety of corporate misconceptions, SAP and Earth Action urge businesses to adopt early disclosure of plastic usage to shield profits, with the report stating “the sooner companies can get a grasp on their plastic footprint, the better.” Experts also advocate for strong global rules and standardised reporting across the full lifecycle of plastics to allow businesses to reduce their compliance burden and decrease costs.
Read more here.
Aldi in-store refill packaging trial completes with success
An in-store trial of banks of dispensers where shoppers can fill their own containers as an alternative to single-use packaging has ended following a two year trial period, with Aldi UK launching the pilot in 2023 as part of a collaboration to develop a scalable alternative to single-use packaging.
Aldi’s pilot was positively received by customers, with refills consistently achieving 30 per cent share of sales compared with single-use packaged versions, and on some weeks up to 50 per cent. Customers showed high levels of satisfaction with the hygiene, speed and ease of use, all challenges with previous refill solutions.
Read more here.
Upcoming webinar: Shift into Gear – How businesses can prepare for the Global Plastics regulatory era
Together with SAP, EA – Earth Action has been analysing the shifting regulatory landscape and its implications for companies worldwide. In an upcoming webinar on the 4th March, an expert panel will discuss the UN Global Plastics Treaty and the increasingly complex web of regulations shaping the future of plastics.
Speakers include Jodie Roussell – Global Public Affairs Lead, Packaging & Sustainability, Nestlé, John Duncan – Global Initiative Lead: No Plastics in Nature, WWF, Stephen Jamieson – Head of Product Marketing, Sustainability, SAP and Hanna Dijkstra -Plastics Expert, Earth Action.
Register here.