Unsold goods are not waste. In less than a month, a total ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, footwear, furniture, books, electrical appliances and other non-food items will come into force in France. This is one of the important steps in the desire to prevent wasteful consumption.

Therefore, from 1 January 2022, it will be forbidden in France to destroy surplus goods subject to the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme. Which goods are involved? Textile products, footwear, electrical appliances, equipment or containers for storing or preparing food, furniture and other household items, batteries, printer cartridges, hygiene products, books, and stationery. The ban on destroying other types of surplus non-food items will come into effect in 2024.

This means a ban on burning surplus goods or sending them to landfills. France has become the first country in the world where such regulations (bans) will come into force.