French environmental organisation Zero Waste France has published a new policy report urging local governments to become key drivers of single-use plastic reduction ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
The document highlights the role that municipal policies and zero waste strategies can play in cutting plastic consumption, especially disposable packaging, at the local level.
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Context: growing concern over single-use plastic waste
The report underscores that average plastic consumption in France is around 70 kg per person per year, with a large share consisting of single-use plastic packaging.
Despite national and European targets to phase out disposable plastics, current recycling performance remains below expectations and waste volumes continue to rise.
The European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive already bans many disposable items, while French law (the Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Law) aims to eliminate all single-use plastic packaging by 2040.
According to the report, reducing overall plastic waste will require greater focus on plastic waste reduction, reuse practices, and public sector leadership to support alternatives to disposable packaging. It notes that recycling alone is insufficient to achieve sustainable waste outcomes.
Local government levers for cutting single-use plastic
Zero Waste France’s policy brief sets out how municipalities can deploy their powers to influence daily plastic use through targeted measures.
Local councils manage essential services such as canteens, sports and cultural facilities, and permits for markets and events. These areas offer opportunities to impose rules favouring reusable packaging and to eliminate plastic waste at events and public spaces.
The organisation points to a range of practical steps cities and towns could adopt, such as banning disposable plastics in official meetings and services, promoting reusable containers and bottles, and integrating zero-plastic criteria into municipal purchasing policies.
Such local policy tools can help create demand for sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and support circular economy goals.
Examples, implementation and reporting
The report highlights existing efforts by local authorities in France that have already reduced dependence on single-use plastics. It suggests that embedding zero waste plans and public-sector procurement standards can amplify the impact of national legislation.
Zero Waste France calls on residents, activists and business stakeholders to engage in municipal policy debates and ensure that plastic reduction commitments are included in electoral platforms.
The organisation also suggests transparent reporting of progress using clear indicators such as the volume of plastic waste avoided and the number of events or markets free of disposable packaging.
The report aligns with broader trends in the global sustainable packaging and plastic governance discourse, where local policy innovation is increasingly viewed as critical to meeting reduction targets and supporting circularity in packaging systems.
