French food company Danone has reached an agreement with environmental nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) ClientEarth, Surfrider Foundation Europe, and Zero Waste France, concluding the legal proceedings initiated against the company regarding its approach to plastic packaging.
The mediation, ordered by the Judicial Court of Paris, has led to a reinforced vigilance plan that addresses the impact of plastic usage.
The agreement resolves the dispute that began in January 2023.
Danone’s enhanced plan provides a detailed account of the implications associated with the use of plastic packaging.
It also outlines the company’s commitment to a series of actions aimed at managing plastic packaging through reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery efforts.
Danone’s revised strategy aligns with the company’s objectives as a Société à Mission, a French legal status that requires companies to set social and environmental goals alongside their economic targets.
In a statement, Danone said: “Danone is delighted to have taken part in an open and transparent discussion with the three NGOs and emphasises how the dialogue has been beneficial and conducive to tackling the complex challenges that require a uniting of all the actors’ and stakeholders’ strengths.
“Danone will continue to act with determination to encourage collective mobilisation of all players, both private and public sector, without whom it is impossible to remove the systemic obstacles (technical, regulatory, financial, etc) that are holding back the emergence of a circular economy.”
In September last year, Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia, in partnership with Danone, opened a ‘high-capacity’ plastic collection centre in Samarinda, Indonesia.
This facility was the ninth established by Prevented Ocean Plastic, part of its goal to open 25 centres globally by 2025.
