France bans plastic plates and cutlery

France has become the first country to ban plastic plates and cutlery, following on from a ban on plastic bags which went into effect in July. 

French President François Hollande, said that the ban is a step towards a goal of "mak[ing] France . . . an exemplary nation in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diversifying its energy model and increasing the deployment of renewable energy sources"

Some wanted the law to go into effect as early as 2017, however it has been delayed to 2020 to protect low-income families which rely on the plastic plates and utensils. Environmentally friendly disposable cutlery will be exempt from the law. 

Unfortunately, the law is not being well received by all. A Brussels-based company, which represents European packaging manufacturers, believes that the law violates European Union laws. 

Read more at the Washington Post.

7 comments

I dont mind plastic plates but I absolutely loathe the cutlery...!

Those horrible bits of plastic served with a good wholesome plate of fish and chips takes the meal to a substandard level. 

I have cut my lip, broken more than I have used and would rather eat with my fingers than use them. 

I now carry my own.

Agree but what are the other options, eg., when getting Asian or Indian takeaway, can't really eat those dishes with your fingers.  

I agree in principle re plastic bags, certain parts of Australia do not have them (ie northern territory).  

They are only banning plastic, not all disposable cutlery. No doubt bamboo utensils will replace the plastic.

The cleanest country we have visited in recent years is Rwanda which is amazing considering it is over-populated and has a tragic recent history.  We were told it is because they banned plastic bags and one day a month using private cars is prohibited and everyone is expected to join in a clean up of their area. 

Go veg!  That's excellent!  I feel down when I see poor communities surrounded in rubbish everywhere.  Why don't they just band together and pick up all the rubbish?  Conversley, I guess the poor animals get some sort of food. When you see the refugees in Europe they leave such a mess behind.

They may not have the weekly garbage collection system that we do.  We really have no excuse for the disrespect our species shows to the environment of other species.

Excellent. simple solution that I have used for years, because I hate plastic cutlery, is to carry a small cutlery roll and wash it up when returning home. It is quite astounding to think that we extract oil from the ground, ship it to a refinery, turn it into plastic, shape it into cutlery, truck it to a shop, use it once and throw it away. and this is considered to be less effort than washing something up.

Go veg! I was  so impressed  with your comment about Rwanda and wanted to find out more....so read an article which disturbs me a little...

"Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, is often praised as “Africa’s cleanest city”. The country’s ban on non-biodegradable plastic is often mentioned as a cause. Another is that on the last Saturday of every month, people across the country commit time to projects aimed at improving the country’s public spaces, in a mandatory practice of Umuganda…which means people come together to clean up.

I also read there is a hidden cost to Kigali’s spotless reputation and it’s the poorest who pay the price. A Human Rights Watch Report revealed how Rwandan police round up and detain people they deem to be “undesirable”…street vendors.. petty criminals.. beggars and street people with the intention of keeping the streets of Kigali tidy."

Did  you  come across any of that? Would be interested to hear more of your experiences..


No, but we were tourists mainly visiting national parks.  We hired a car and driver for a week - it was great but at that time accommodation out of the cities was either insanely expensive or pretty basic.  About half the population is under 15 years old so I suppose they had to do something drastic.  I have picked up litter here for the last few decades and sadly, it's getting worse - a very small amount of plastic cutlery but huge numbers of plastic bags, plastic bottles and glass bottles, plus very large numbers of small plastic items dangerous to seabirds and marine life, viz. Chuppa Chuppa sticks, Mentos packets, discarded fishing line and of course, millions of cigarette butts. 

Excellent, we should follow suit!  There is more and more talk of being sustainable, yet in Australia we seem to be going the wrong way.  How many coffee shops nowadays sell coffee in paper cups or polystyrene?  I simply refuse to pay for a coffee which is not served in a proper cup!  As consumers we have that choice we can make each time we pull out our wallet.  Same goes for all the fast food wrappings, something I never purchase.  

Yes you are better off to take your own mug and cutlery if you are travelling.

7 comments



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