What Is France’s AGEC Law?
France’s Loi relative à la lutte contre le gaspillage et à l’économie circulaire, commonly called the AGEC Law or Anti-Waste Law, was adopted on 10 February 2020. It is one of the most ambitious pieces of environmental legislation in the world, aiming to transform France from a linear ‘take-make-dispose’ economy into a circular one where materials are kept in use for as long as possible.
The law contains over 130 articles and covers every stage of a product’s life from how it is designed, labelled, and sold, to how it is repaired, reused, and ultimately recycled or disposed of. It applies to all goods sold on French territory, including products sold by foreign brands and e-commerce platforms to French consumers.
Why Was This Law Created?
Before AGEC, France generated 4.6 tonnes of waste per inhabitant. This is nearly twice as much as neighbouring Italy and Spain. Its household waste recovery rate (39%) and plastic packaging recycling rate (20%) were both below the EU average.
The AGEC Law was brought in to solve this problem and is the culmination of years of policy work, beginning with France’s 2015 Energy Transition Law for Green Growth, the 2016 ‘Garot Law’ that banned destruction of unsold food, and the 2017 French Climate Plan. A wide public consultation in October 2017, which received nearly 1,800 contributions, shaped a National Circular Economy Roadmap published in 2018. Half of the roadmap’s 50 measures required legislation, and these became the backbone of the AGEC Law.
The law was unanimously adopted by both the Senate and the National Assembly, reflecting broad cross-party political consensus that systemic change was necessary.
Core Ambition
The AGEC Law has three overarching goals:
- Eliminate waste and pollution, especially single-use plastic, by redesigning products from the ground up.
- Keep products and materials in use for longer, through repair, reuse, and stronger Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
- Inform and empower citizens, by making product environmental data transparent and easy to understand.
The Five Pillars of the AGEC Law
The law is organised into five major thematic areas. Together, they create a framework touching nearly every sector of the French economy.
Pillar 1 — Phasing Out Disposable Plastic: France aims to eliminate all single-use plastic packaging by 2040, set in four five-year phases. Immediate bans were introduced on everyday plastic items (cups, straws, cutlery, packaging, etc.) from 2020 onwards.
Pillar 2 — Better Informing Consumers: Includes the Triman Logo & unified sorting instructions, endocrine disruptor disclosure, environmental labelling, and digital carbon footprint information.
Pillar 3 — Fighting Waste & Promoting Reuse: France is the first country in the world to prohibit the landfilling and incineration of unsold non-food products. Companies must now donate, reuse, or recycle unsold products.
Pillar 4 — Acting Against Planned Obsolescence: Mandatory Repairability Index (score out of 10) on electronics, extended legal guarantees, and repair fund obligations for EPR schemes.
Pillar 5 — Better Production & Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): France added 12 new EPR schemes under AGEC, making it one of the global leaders in EPR breadth.
What This Means for Fashion & Lifestyle Brands
For the fashion, apparel, and footwear sector, the AGEC Law goes far beyond general consumer goods rules. The Textile, Clothing, Leather, and Footwear (TCLF) sector is specifically named in several provisions, and additional implementing decrees, most notably Decree No. 2022-748, set out detailed obligations around transparency and eco-labelling.
Ban on Destroying Clothing
This is arguably the most impactful provision for fashion brands. Clothing, shoes, and household linen may no longer be destroyed. Brands must find alternative pathways for their unsold stock, through donation to associations, resale in discount channels, repair, or recycling. The ban also indirectly pressures brands to improve demand forecasting and reduce overproduction.
Mandatory Consumer Eco-Labelling (Decree No. 2022-748)
This decree introduces a phased requirement for fashion brands to disclose detailed environmental and traceability information to consumers, via a QR code or digital product passport linked to a garment’s care label. The information that must be disclosed includes:
| Information Required | Details |
|---|---|
| Country of manufacturing | Where stitching, weaving/knitting, and dyeing/printing occurred |
| Recycled content | Exact percentage of recycled fibres in the garment |
| Recyclability | Whether and how the garment can be recycled |
| Microplastic warning | Required on garments with >50% synthetic fibres (e.g., polyester, nylon) |
| Harmful substances | Presence of REACH-regulated chemicals |
| Repair & durability info | Information supporting product longevity |
Phased Rollout Thresholds (Turnover & Volume in French Market)
The eco-labelling decree was introduced progressively based on a brand’s annual turnover and volume of products sold in France:
| Phase | Turnover Threshold | Volume Threshold | Compliance Required From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | > €50 million | > 25,000 units | 2023 |
| Phase 2 | > €20 million | > 10,000 units | 2024 |
| Phase 3 (Current) | > €10 million | > 10,000 units | 2025 / 2026 |
IMPORTANT: As of 2026, the phased rollout is largely complete. Any fashion brand selling more than €10M worth of goods to French consumers, including via e-commerce, and placing more than 10,000 units on the French market must now comply. This applies to brands based outside France.
Triman Logo & Sorting Instructions on Garments
All garments (and their packaging) sold in France must now display the Triman logo alongside specific sorting instructions (Info-tri). This appears on both the physical care label sewn into the garment and on the external packaging (e.g., polybags or hangtags). The sorting instructions must clearly indicate how the consumer should dispose of the garment at the end of life.
FACT: The Triman logo is a mandatory French recycling symbol indicating that products or packaging must be sorted and not thrown in general waste. It features a black stylised person, three black arrows representing recycling, and a circular arrow, usually accompanied by “Info-Tri” instructions detailing how to sort materials.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Textiles
EPR is the ‘reactor heart’ of France’s waste management system. Under EPR, the companies that place a product on the market are financially responsible for its end-of-life collection, sorting, and recycling. They typically do this by contributing to a producer responsibility organisation (PRO).
The textile and footwear sector already had an EPR scheme in France prior to AGEC, managed primarily by Refashion (formerly Eco TLC). Under the AGEC Law, the requirements and financial obligations of this scheme have been strengthened. Fashion brands must:
- Register with an approved eco-organisation (Refashion or SYDEREP) to obtain a Unique Identification Number (UID).
- Pay annual EPR contributions based on the volume and weight of products placed on the French market.
- Finance the collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of garments and footwear at end of life.
- Contribute to the solidarity reuse fund (5% of EPR contributions) to support charitable clothing collection networks.
Compliance Roadmap for Fashion Brands
| Step | Action Required | Key Tool / Partner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Map your Tier 1–3 supply chain | Supply chain mapping software |
| 2 | Implement Digital Product Passports (DPPs) | QR code on care labels linked to hosted data |
| 3 | Register with an eco-organisation | Refashion / SYDEREP; obtain your UID |
| 4 | Update physical trims & packaging | Add Triman logo, Info-tri, microfibre warning to labels |
| 5 | Calculate & report EPR contributions annually | Refashion reporting portal |
| 6 | Develop eco-design action plan every 5 years | Internal sustainability team + ADEME guidance |
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Non-compliance with AGEC provisions can result in:
- Fines of up to €15,000 per violation or per product line.
- Removal of non-compliant products from French retail shelves.
- Significant reputational damage, particularly given the law’s high public profile.
- Increased scrutiny from French customs and market surveillance authorities.
EPR non-compliance carries additional penalties including higher contribution rates and potential exclusion from the French market.
AGEC & European Law
France’s AGEC Law or businesses is a preview of where European regulation is heading.
| EU Regulation | What It Covers | How AGEC Prepares You |
|---|---|---|
| EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) | Digital Product Passports, durability, repairability for most product categories | AGEC’s DPP requirement for textiles is a direct precursor. Brands already compliant with AGEC are well-positioned |
| EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) | Mandatory recycled content in packaging, plastic reduction targets | AGEC’s single-use plastic bans and bulk sales provisions mirror PPWR requirements |
| EU Strategy for Sustainable & Circular Textiles | Mandatory minimum recycled content in textiles, EPR across all EU member states | AGEC’s EPR for textiles is the template the EU is now legislating for all 27 member states |
| EU Green Claims Directive | Substantiation of environmental marketing claims | AGEC’s ban on ‘biodegradable’ claims without scientific basis aligns directly with the EU’s tightening rules on greenwashing |
Complying with AGEC today means your business is approximately 80-90% ready for the wave of EU sustainability regulations arriving between 2026 and 2030.
Glossary of Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| AGEC | Loi Anti-Gaspillage pour une Économie Circulaire — the French Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy, adopted February 2020. |
| ADEME | Agence de la transition écologique — France’s public Agency for Ecological Transition, which develops guidance on environmental labelling and circular economy policy. |
| ANSES | Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail — France’s national food, environmental, and occupational health safety agency, which classifies endocrine disruptors. |
| Bonus-Malus | A financial incentive system that reduces EPR contributions for eco-designed products and increases them for non-eco-designed ones. |
| Circular Economy | An economic model in which products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, and recycling, eliminating waste and the need to extract new resources. |
| Decree No. 2022-748 | The key implementing decree under AGEC that mandates eco-labelling and traceability disclosures for the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear sector. |
| Digital Product Passport (DPP) | A data record, typically accessed via a QR code on a product’s label, that contains detailed environmental, traceability, and material composition information about a product. |
| Eco-design | Designing products from the outset to minimise environmental impact. For example, by using recycled materials, avoiding harmful substances, and enabling easy repair or disassembly. |
| Endocrine Disruptors | Substances that interfere with the hormonal systems of humans or animals. Under AGEC, products containing these must be publicly disclosed by manufacturers. |
| EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) | A policy principle that makes the manufacturer or brand responsible for financing the collection, sorting, and recycling of a product at the end of its useful life. |
| ESPR | EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation – the EU-level regulation extending eco-design requirements to a wide range of product categories, building on AGEC’s approach. |
| Info-tri | The specific, standardised sorting instructions that must accompany the Triman logo on products sold in France. |
| PRO | Producer Responsibility Organisation, a body set up by producers to collectively manage their EPR obligations on their behalf (e.g., collecting and recycling products at end of life). |
| REACH | EU Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It defines which chemical substances may be used in products sold in Europe. |
| Refashion | The French eco-organisation responsible for managing the EPR scheme for the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear (TCLF) sector. Formerly known as Eco TLC. |
| Repairability Index | A mandatory score out of 10, displayed on certain electronics and appliances, indicating how easy a product is to repair. |
| Single-Use Plastic | Plastic items designed to be used once and then discarded, such as cups, straws, and packaging. AGEC targets the elimination of all single-use plastic by 2040. |
| SYDEREP | A second French eco-organisation through which brands in the TCLF sector can fulfil their EPR registration obligations. |
| TCLF | Textile, Clothing, Leather, and Footwear — the sector classification used in French regulatory texts to define which brands are subject to AGEC’s textile-specific provisions. |
| Triman Logo | A standardised French recycling/sorting logo that must appear on any product subject to a sorting rule. It indicates that there is a specific disposal instruction, not necessarily that the item is recyclable. |
| UID (Unique Identification Number) | A registration number issued to brands by an eco-organisation (Refashion or SYDEREP) confirming they are participating in the textile EPR scheme. |
Sources & Further Reading
This guide is based on the following primary and secondary sources. All links were accurate as of March 2026.
Primary / Official Sources
- French Government (Ministère de la Transition Écologique et Solidaire) — “The Anti-Waste Law in the Daily Lives of the French People, What Does That Mean in Practice?” (January 2020). Official publication of the French Government.
- Journal officiel de la République française — LOI n° 2020-105 du 10 février 2020 relative à la lutte contre le gaspillage et à l’économie circulaire. The full legislative text of the AGEC Law.
- Décret n° 2022-748 du 29 avril 2022 relatif à l’information du consommateur sur les qualités et caractéristiques environnementales des produits générateurs de déchets (Official eco-labelling implementing decree for TCLF and other sectors).
- Ministère de la Transition Écologique — “Décrets d’application de la loi anti-gaspillage pour une économie circulaire” (catalogue of implementing decrees, updated 2021–2024). Available at ecologie.gouv.fr.
- Refashion — Guidance documents and EPR registration information for the TCLF sector. Available at refashion.fr.
Research & Analysis
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation — “France’s Anti-waste and Circular Economy Law: Eliminating Waste and Promoting Social Inclusion” (Case Study, August 2021). Part of the Universal Circular Economy Policy Goals series. Available at ellenmacarthurfoundation.org.
- ADEME — “50 mesures pour une économie 100% circulaire” (France’s Roadmap for a Circular Economy, April 2018).
- Institut National de L’économie Circulaire — “La REP Quésaco? La Responsabilité Élargie Du Producteur (REP) Et La Loi AGEC” (2020).
Statistical References
- Ademe — “Déchets chiffres-clés — Édition 2020” (France’s waste generation and recycling statistics).
- Dons Solidaires — “Étude Hygiène et Précarité” (2020) — on hygiene product deprivation in France.
- Agence du don en nature / AFM-Téléthon / Activa capital — Estimate of €630 million in new products destroyed annually in France.
- EcoCo2 — “Gaspillage: Plus De 600 Millions D’euros De Produits Neufs Détruits Chaque Année” (2014).
Document prepared March 2026 · Based on official French government publications & Ellen MacArthur Foundation research
This document is produced for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. The authors and publishers of this document accept no liability for any losses, penalties, or damages arising from reliance on this information. The AGEC Law and its implementing decrees are sovereign French law; their interpretation and enforcement are the exclusive domain of French courts and regulatory authorities.
