France becomes first country to ban plastic cups and plates

France has become the first country in the world to ban disposable plastic cups and plates. The country has passed a law in September 2016 that will go into effect in January 2020. The law will require all disposable tableware to be made from 50% biologically-sourced materials that can be composted at home. That number will rise to 60% by January of 2025. The measure is an addition to

France's Energy Transition for Green Growth Act, a wide-reaching law adopted in 2015 with the aim of mitigating the impact of climate change.

In July 2016, France imposed a total ban on the distribution of lightweight plastic bags at supermarket checkouts.

Why the ban?

As per the French Association of Health and Environment, ASEF One hundred and fifty single-use cups are thrown away every second in France, which counts to 4.73 billion per year. Only 1 percent of the cups is recycled, largely because they are made of a mixture of polypropylene and polystyrene.

About Energy Transition for Green Growth Act

• France enacted its Energy Transition for Green Growth Bill on 17 August 2015 following an initial presentation at the 2012 environmental conference and nation-wide public consultation in 2013.

• The Act lays out a roadmap for transforming France's energy model without hampering growth.

• Six objectives set by the Act are:

i. Reduce GHG emissions by 40% by 2030 from 1990 levels.

ii. Halve final energy consumption by 2050 from 2012 levels.

iii. Reduce fossil fuel consumption by 30% by 2030 from 2012 levels.

iv. Have renewable energies account for 32% of final energy consumption and 40% of electricity generation by 2030.

v. Halve the amount of landfilled waste by 2025.

vi. Reduce the share of nuclear power in the energy mix to 50% by 2025.

France becomes first country to ban plastic cups and plates