What the AGEC Act Really Changes for Businesses
Enacted in February 2020, the Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy—known as the AGEC Law—is the most far-reaching legislation ever passed in France on the circular economy. It does not apply solely to local governments or waste management companies. It redefines the rules of the game for all businesses that manufacture, distribute, or sell products.
What many organizations failed to anticipate is that the AGEC Act is not a static body of law. It is a law that is being implemented gradually, with its requirements taking effect through executive orders, by industry sector, and based on workforce size thresholds.
This guide provides a practical overview: what the law requires, who it applies to, and when it takes effect.
The 5 pillars of the AGEC Act
The AGEC Act is structured around five key areas. Understanding their scope will help you determine which ones apply to you.
1. The end of single-use plastic: this is the most visible measure. The law mandates the phased elimination of single-use plastics: cutlery, straws, stirrers, expanded polystyrene food containers (etc.). The deadlines are spread out from 2021 to 2025, depending on the product. Businesses in the restaurant, food retail, and event industries are on the front lines.
2. The repairability index, followed by the durability index: Since January 2021, certain electronic devices (smartphones, laptops, televisions, washing machines, and lawn mowers) must display a repairability index rated on a scale of 1 to 10. This index, calculated based on public criteria (availability of parts, technical documentation, ease of disassembly), is gradually evolving into a durability index. For the manufacturers and importers concerned, this represents an obligation of product traceability and transparency that extends throughout the entire design chain.
3. Combating waste from unsold non-food items: this is undoubtedly the most significant requirement for consumer goods brands. As of January 1, 2022, it is prohibited to dispose of unsold non-food items. The products covered span a wide range: household appliances, textiles, hygiene products, computer equipment, toys (etc.). The alternative is mandatory: reuse, repurposing, or recycling. For many companies, this means revising their return logistics, logistics contracts, and end-of-line inventory management.
4. Producer responsibility through EPR schemes: The AGEC Act expands and strengthens Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Specifically, any producer, importer, or distributor that places waste-generating products on the market must contribute financially to their collection and treatment. Existing schemes (packaging, WEEE, batteries, etc.) are being strengthened, and new schemes are being created: textiles, toys, sports and leisure goods, commercial packaging, construction, etc.
5. Information and transparency: The AGEC Act introduces new consumer information requirements. This includes the percentage of recycled materials in products, the availability of replacement parts, and information on sorting procedures. It also strictly regulates environmental claims: vague claims such as “biodegradable,” “environmentally friendly,” or “eco-friendly” are now prohibited on products and packaging unless they are substantiated.
AGEC Key Milestones Calendar
Here are the key deadlines to keep in mind as you work toward compliance.
2021 :
- Ban on single-use plastics (first phase: cutlery, straws, stirrers, cotton swab sticks)
- Implementation of the Repairability Index for 5 product categories
- Requirement for retailers with stores larger than 400 square meters to offer bulk food sections
2022 :
- Ban on the destruction of unsold non-food items (all business sizes)
- No more plastic packaging for fruits and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg
- Implementation of the EPR system for commercial packaging
2023 :
- Expansion of the Repairability Index to new product categories
- New EPR programs now in effect (toys, sporting goods, leisure items, and DIY products)
- Strengthening traceability requirements for textiles (textile sector)
2024 :
- Requirement for restaurants to offer takeout without single-use packaging (reusable containers)
- Expansion of the take-back requirement for used products in several EPR sectors
2025–2026:
- Transition to the Sustainability Index (which replaces and expands upon the Repairability Index)
- Stricter requirements for recycled content in certain packaging categories
- Alignment with the European PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), which took effect in 2025
Who is affected, and by what?
The AGEC Act is not applied uniformly. The extent of your obligations depends on your business activity, the size of your company, and your position in the value chain.
- If you are a manufacturer or importer of physical products, you are on the front lines. EPR obligations, repairability or sustainability indices, bans on the destruction of unsold goods, product labeling, and product information: the entire regulatory framework applies depending on your product categories.
- If you are a distributor or retailer, you have specific obligations regarding the sale of bulk goods, the take-back of used products (one-for-one), the display of the repairability index at the point of sale, and the provision of water fountains in supermarkets.
- If you are a service or B2B company, the AGEC law affects you less directly in terms of products, but it does impact your purchasing, communications, and waste management policies. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for commercial packaging applies to you if you place packaging on the market for commercial use.
- If you’re in the restaurant industry, regulations regarding reusable containers, single-use plastics, and takeout have transformed the sector since 2021–2024. Compliance is no longer optional.
What the AGEC Act says about your communications
This is a point that is often overlooked. The AGEC Act has a direct impact on what you are allowed to say about your products and packaging.
Unsubstantiated environmental claims such as "biodegradable," "environmentally friendly," "eco-friendly," or "compostable" are now prohibited on products or packaging (the latter is permitted only for home composting and is prohibited if it refers to industrial composting without further clarification).
This restriction is part of a broader trend, reinforced by the 2021 Climate and Resilience Act—which classifies greenwashing as a deceptive commercial practice under the Consumer Code—and by subsequent European regulations (the EmpCo Directive and the ESPR Regulation).
In practical terms, this means that all environmental claims must now be substantiated, measurable, and verifiable. "Made from 30% recycled material" is acceptable. "Good for the planet" is no longer acceptable.
The AGEC Act and Corporate Strategy: Beyond Compliance
Compliance with the Anti-Waste Act for a Circular Economy is essential. But treating it solely as a regulatory requirement is a strategic mistake.
Companies that are making progress in this area are seeing three types of competitive advantages:
- Reduced operating costs: The ban on destroying unsold inventory, combined with EPR obligations, is driving companies to reevaluate their logistics processes. As they work to ensure compliance, many companies are discovering opportunities for optimization they had not previously identified: reducing excess inventory, developing new channels for value-added inventory clearance, and optimizing packaging.
- Securing the value chain: The AGEC Act paves the way for broader regulations on material traceability, recycled content, and product sustainability. Companies that anticipate these requirements are building more robust supply chains that are less reliant on virgin materials and better equipped to withstand future regulatory changes.
- Competitive differentiation. In certain sectors—such as textiles, packaging, and electronics—repairability, recycled content, and take-back policies have become key purchasing criteria for business customers. Staying ahead of compliance requirements often means staying ahead of what your customers will be asking for tomorrow.
The AGEC Law and the European Framework: What Comes Next
The AGEC Act is not a standalone piece of legislation. It is part of a broader trend in European regulation that is set to grow.
Several pieces of legislation will reshape the landscape in the coming years: the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, adopted in 2024), which imposes sustainability and repairability requirements across a very broad range of products; the PPWR on packaging, which took effect in 2025 and sets reduction and reuse targets at the European level; the CSRD, which requires large companies to report on their environmental impacts, including resource and waste management.
In this context, the AGEC law is the first step on a regulatory ladder. Companies that have established their AGEC compliance framework are, in effect, one step ahead of upcoming European requirements.
What Circul'R observes in the field
For over ten years, Circul'R has been supporting companies in their transition to circular business models through training programs, consulting services, industry coalitions, and our Club. What we consistently observe is:
Compliance with the AGEC law is rarely addressed in a single step. It involves several functions—legal, supply chain, marketing, and procurement—that do not naturally speak the same language on these issues. The companies that fare best are those that have established an internal governance structure for this matter, with a designated lead and a shared understanding of the obligations by sector.
Furthermore, EPR obligations—often perceived as nothing more than a tax—are in fact a tool for sector-wide restructuring. Several of the coalitions that Circul'R has initiated (particularly regarding the reuse of packaging) arose from the collective realization that regulatory compliance is best addressed at the industry level rather than by individual companies acting alone.
For further reading
The Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy is reshaping the rules of the game for French companies. For organizations that incorporate it into their strategy—rather than treating it as a constraint—it opens up real opportunities for economic performance and resilience.
Circul'R supports companies and industry coalitions through this transformation. If you’d like to identify your top priorities, develop your AGEC roadmap, or work at the industry level, please contact our team.
