The scope of the professional packaging scheme is being extended
Initially scheduled to be rolled out on the first of July, minister Mathieu Lefèvre announced in a press release that the professional packaging scheme will come into force on 1 January 2027. From that date, all professional packaging will be covered by an EPR scheme, and each producer concerned must have joined an eco-organisation. Read on to find out what will change for you.
Get ready to meet the new requirements
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Tout savoir sur la filière
The key ambitions of the professional packaging EPR scheme are to:
- Reduce packaging waste
- Develop the reuse of professional packaging (defined within the scope)
- Develop sorting at source by financially supporting the collection and treatment of waste from end users
- Increase the recycling of packaging that could not be reused, and prioritise recycling locally
Currently (catering packaging):
The products concerned
The products concerned are all types of packaging for primary food products consumed or used specifically by professionals operating a catering packaging business. The packaged products must have a mass or volume strictly greater than the thresholds stipulated in the annex of the order defining the scope dated 20 July 2023.
A legal entity operating an on-premises catering packaging business, including licensed premises, whether or not this business is its main activity and whether it is indoors or outdoors.
Products not concerned
The following products are excluded from the scheme:
- Packaging for non-food products consumed or used by professionals operating a catering packaging business;
- Secondary and tertiary packaging consumed or used by professionals operating a catering packaging business;
- Packaging for primary food products consumed or used by professionals operating a catering packaging business lower than or equal to the thresholds in the order defining the scope dated 20 July 2023. These types of packaging fall under the scope of the household packaging scheme.
Soon (professional packaging):
The order defining the scope dated 2 December 2025 specifies the packaging concerned. Packaging that is already covered by another EPR scheme does not come under the professional packaging scheme.
Currently (catering packaging):
The producers concerned by the catering packaging EPR scheme are: “Any person that, in a professional capacity, packs their products or has their products packed for the purpose of placing them on the market, any importer whose products are marketed in packaging or, if the producer or importer cannot be identified, the person responsible for the first placing on the market of such products”.
It is not the packaging manufacturer who is considered to be the producer, but rather the person who packages the products that are marketed.
For further information, consult article R543-43 III point 7 of the Environmental Code.
Soon (professional packaging):
You can read the definition of ‘producer’ applicable within this scheme in point 15 of article 3 of regulation (EU) 2025/40. We will provide further information on how this definition is to be interpreted very soon.
Currently (catering packaging):
One producer responsibility organisation (PRO) is accredited for the current accreditation period: Citeo Pro
Soon (professional packaging):
On 5 June 2026, 3 producer responsibility organisations (Twiice, Leko Pro and Citeo Pro) have been accredited to roll out the professional packaging EPR scheme.
2 individual compliance schemes are accredited for the current accreditation period:
- Euro Pool System France from 09/07/2026 until 31/12/2030
- La Palette Rouge from 09/07/2026 until 31/12/2031
- International Pallet Pool BV from 06/07/2026 until 31/12/2031
When a producer joins a producer responsibility organisation (PRO), it pays the organisation an EPR fee in return for the latter taking responsibility for its obligations relating to the products it places on the market.
This amount may be modulated upwards or downwards depending on the environmental characteristics of the products. A bonus rewards virtuous practices, while a penalty is applied to a product with characteristics that have a significant impact on the environment or human health.
Bonuses
Applicable within the professional catering packaging EPR scheme in 2025
| Criterion | Condition | Bonus amount | Documentary proof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reduction at source | The reduction in packaging must: Be of at least 1% relative to the previous year, Remain within the same material family, Guarantee recyclability, Guarantee that no weight is transferred to packaging in other categories. |
Bonus proportional to the rate of reduction: -x% of the total EPR fee for the packaging, for a x% reduction in weight |
Data sheets indicating the post-reduction weight of the packaging units |
| Reusability | Concerne les emballages neufs, réemployables au sens de l'art. 543-43 du Code de l'environnement. | -5% of the total EPR fee for the packaging concerned | Accounting documents demonstrating the existence of an effective operational solution for industrial-scale reuse: proof of purchase, deposit refund receipts, washing expenses, etc. |
| Incorporation of recycled plastic materials | Le taux d’incorporation doit être supérieur à 25 % pour les bouteilles de boisson en PET et 10 % pour les autres emballages. La matière doit être post-consommation et incorporée en boucle fermée. |
Bonus in €/kg of material incorporated, depending on the plastic resin and the source of the material: PET: from €0.05/kg to €0.40/kg LDPE: from €0.40/kg to €0.55/kg HDPE, PP, PS (including EPS): €0.45/kg |
Proof of recycled material traceability Health risk assessment document in the case of food packaging |
Penalty
Applicable within the professionnal packaging EPR scheme in 2025
| Criterion | Condition | Penalty amount | Documentary proof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recyclability | Various rates are applied to specific materials depending on their recycling channels | Variable weight-based fee depending on the packaging material | Annual reporting to the PRO |
Several bonuses or penalties may apply to a given packaging under this scheme.
Producers, to enquire about the conditions you have to meet and the procedures you have to complete to benefit from a bonus, or check whether you are subject to a penalty, please contact your producer responsibility organisation.
Currently (catering packaging):
The specifications set the following targets:
Target for reducing the tonnage of plastics incorporated in single-use packaging placed on the market
| Target | Deadline |
|---|---|
| -20% relative to 2018 of which at least 50% obtained through the reuse of packaging |
31/12/2025 |
Reuse target
| Target | Year |
|---|---|
| At least 10% reused packaging placed on the market each year |
2027 |
Collection targets
| Collection rate | Year |
|---|---|
| 70% | 2025 |
| 90% | 2028 |
Recycling targets
| Taux de recyclage | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Steel: 70% Aluminium: 50% Paper/cardboard: 75% Plastic: 50% Glass: 70% Wood: 25% |
as of 2025 |
Recycling target for single-use plastic packaging
| Target | Deadline |
|---|---|
| All single-use plastic packaging covered by the accreditation falls within an operational recycling system, does not disrupt the sorting and recycling lines, and does not contain inseparable substances or components liable to restrict use of the recycled material. | 01/01/2025 |
Soon (professional packaging):
The specifications set the following targets:
Industrial waste reduction target of 5%
| Target | Deadline |
|---|---|
|
-5% compared to 2010
|
2030 |
Reuse target
| Packaging concerned | Target | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Transport packaging and sales packaging used for transport | 40% of packaging reusable and falling within a reuse system | 2030 |
| Transport packaging and sales packaging used for transport between different sites on which the operator performs its activity, or between any of the sites on which the operator performs its activity and the sites of any other linked enterprise or partner enterprise | 100% of packaging reusable in the framework of a reuse system | 2030 |
| Transport packaging and sales packaging used for transport to deliver products to another economic operator within the same Member State shall ensure that such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. | 100% of packaging reusable in the framework of a reuse system | 2030 |
| Grouped packaging in the form of boxes | 10% of packaging reusable in the framework of a reuse system | 2030 |
These targets are assessed in terms of numbers of units of packaging. There are several exceptions to these targets. For further information, consult the specifications.
Recycling targets
| Steel | Aluminium | Paper and cardboard | Plastic | Glass | Wood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycling rate as of 2028 | 70% | 50% | 75% | 50% | 70% | 25% |
| Recycling rate as of 2030 | 80% | 60% | 85% | 55% | 75% | 30% |
French regulations currently (catering packaging)
- Accreditation of the CITEO Pro producer responsibility organisation: order of 11 March 2024;
- Specifications: order of 20 July 2023;
- Scope of professional catering packaging: order of 20 July 2023;
- Legislation establishing the scheme: decree no. 2023-162 of 7 March 2023;
- Data reporting: order of 12 December 2022;
- Legislation establishing the scheme: article L541-10-1 point 2 of the Environnement Code.
French regulations soon (professional packaging):
- Specifications: order of 2 December 2025;
- Scope of professional packaging: order of 2 December 2025;
- Legislation establishing the scheme: decree no. 2025-1081 of 17 November 2025;
- Legislation establishing the scheme: article L541-10-1 point 2 of the Environnement Code.
European Union regulations
- Single-use plastics: Directive 2019/904 of 5 June 2019;
- Packaging and packaging waste: Directive 94/62/CE amended by Directive 2018/852
To be replaced as of 12 August 2026 by the Regulation (UE) 2025/40
Brochure
Cross-sector study
Methodological guide
Study by scheme
Cross-functional packaging
Timeline
AGEC Law
February 2020
February 2020
AGEC Law
March 2023
Implementing decree (catering packaging)
March 2023
Implementing decree (catering packaging)
Specifications (catering packaging)
July 2023
July 2023
Specifications (catering packaging)
March 2024
Accreditation of CITEO Pro (catering packaging)
March 2024
Accreditation of CITEO Pro (catering packaging)
Implementing decree (professional packaging)
November 2025
November 2025
Implementing decree (professional packaging)
December 2025
Specifications (professional packaging)
December 2025
Specifications (professional packaging)
Accreditation of Twiice, Leko Pro and Citeo Pro (professional packaging)
July 2026
July 2026
Accreditation of Twiice, Leko Pro and Citeo Pro (professional packaging)
2026 - 2031
Accreditation valid
January 2027
Effective implementation (all professional packaging)
January 2027
Effective implementation (all professional packaging)