France bans plastic cutlery to fight climate change

Plastic cutlery and crockery is set to be banned in France unless it is made from biologically sourced materials.

The move is part of the French environmental initiative called Energy Transition for Green Growth, and the law will come into force in 2020.

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While it has gone down well with ecological organisations, the ruling has come under fire by packaging manufacturers, like Pack2Go Europe, who suggest it has violated European Union rules on free movement of goods.

According to the Independent, Pack2go Europe secretary general Eamonn Bates told The Associated Press: "We are urging the European Commission to do the right thing and to take legal action against France for infringing European law. If they don't, we will."

Mr Bates added that he believed there was no proof that biologically-sourced materials were more environmentally friendly, and said it may lead to worse litter problems as people will believe it is biodegradable and that they can therefore leave that packaging in the countryside.

The Telegraph reports that the move is part of a growing trend to rid the world of the use of plastics.

San Francisco banned plastic shopping bags in 2007, and the use of plastic water bottles on public properties in 2014.

And a law was recently passed in Britain requiring the public to pay 5p for plastic shopping bags.


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