The current draft of the bill, which was discussed in the Joint Committee on 31 March 2025, provides for Article 23 of the Climate and Resilience Act of 22 August 2021 (Article L 41-15-10 of the Environmental Code) to be deleted without replacement. The current legislation prohibits the use of styrene packaging, with effect from 1 January 2025.
A cancellation with major implications
The initial ban was applied to packaging made from styrene (PS/PSE/XPS), as this material is categorised as non-recyclable and cannot be integrated into a recycling cycle. If the draft is adopted, this material could continue to be placed on the market like all other plastic packaging.
Alignment with european requirements
This regulatory evolution is part of a broader drive for harmonization with the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This provides for more distant deadlines, with restriction and recyclability targets set for 2030 and 2035.
A text still awaiting promulgation
Although the deletion was recorded in the minutes of the joint committee, the draft still has to go through all the other parliamentary stages. Amendments or additional debates are therefore still possible before the final adoption of the proposal.
What impact will this have on those working in the sector?
The planned lifting of the styrene ban could represent a significant turning point in French plastics policy. However, as it is only a draft at this point, companies and associations should monitor the legislative process closely and prepare for possible tightening at an early stage.
