A look back at our webinar on phasing out single-use plastics in local communities
Single-use plastics (SUPs) are everywhere: in our school cafeterias, events, offices, and public spaces. Yet regulations are becoming stricter, environmental and health impacts continue to mount, and local authorities are finding themselves on the front line of the transition.
How can this challenge be turned into an opportunity? That was the central question of the webinar organized by our teams on June 4. Here are the key takeaways.
A massive problem with very real local consequences
Global plastic production reached 430.9 million tonnes in 2024, with 40% consisting of packaging designed for a lifespan of less than six months. These materials too often end up in the environment. It is estimated that 79,000 tonnes of plastic waste are currently floating in the North Pacific Ocean alone, spread across an area more than three times the size of Spain.
Beyond environmental concerns, the health impacts are equally alarming. More than 16,000 additives have been identified in plastics, around a quarter of which are considered problematic, including endocrine disruptors and substances associated with the toxicity of microplastics.
For local authorities, the costs are very tangible: waste collection and clean-up expenses, visual pollution, contamination of waterways, and loss of tourism value, among others. The issue of single-use plastics is not merely a global challenge—it is very much a local one.
What exactly is a Single-Use Plastic?
According to the European definition, a single-use plastic product is any “product made wholly or partly from plastic that is not conceived, designed or placed on the market to accomplish, within its lifespan, multiple trips or rotations by being returned to a producer for refill or reused for the same purpose” (European Commission, Single-Use Plastics Directive, 2019).
This definition, which has been transposed into French environmental law, also applies to products that offer performance similar to single-use plastics, even when they are marketed as “durable” alternatives. Such products are found in a wide range of settings, including internal meetings, collective catering facilities, public events, public spaces, nurseries, libraries, and sports facilities.
Un cadre réglementaire qui s’accélère
Today, four major pieces of legislation shape the obligations of local authorities and economic actors.
- The EGalim Law laid the foundations for the transition by banning disposable plastic tableware in school cafeterias since 2020, requiring reusable tableware in public catering facilities, and extending these requirements to nurseries from 2026.
- The AGEC Law (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Act) goes further by targeting the elimination of all unnecessary single-use plastics, setting a 20% reduction target by 2025, and introducing reuse targets for packaging producers. Public establishments that fail to comply may face penalties, including fines of up to €1,500.
- The Professional Packaging EPR Scheme, which will take effect on 1 July 2026, introduces Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging circulating between businesses. Local authorities will need to review public procurement contracts, implement appropriate sorting infrastructure, and coordinate with producer responsibility organisations such as Citeo Pro, Twiice, and Léko.
- The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), applicable from August 2026, sets ambitious targets for beverage and transport packaging. By 2030, all packaging will be required to achieve a recyclability rating corresponding to at least 70% recyclability (grades A, B, or C), while packaging deemed non-recyclable will be phased out. The regulation also establishes progressive targets to reduce packaging waste per capita by 5% by 2030 and 15% by 2040.
Beware of false solutions
Before looking for alternatives, it is important to avoid some common misconceptions.
- “Plastic-free” paper cups typically contain a thin polymer lining—often PLA—to ensure waterproofing. The same applies to beverage cartons and cans.
- PLA (Polylactic Acid), although bio-based, is still classified as plastic under European legislation and requires industrial composting facilities to break down properly.
- Recycled plastic remains single-use plastic. In France, only around 14% of plastics are actually recycled.
As a result, replacing conventional plastics with supposedly “greener” disposable alternatives is not always enough. The most effective strategy remains reducing unnecessary consumption and prioritising reusable solutions wherever possible.
Four levels of action
Circulab proposes a framework based on four complementary levels of action:
- Reduce: Decrease the number of product references and eliminate unnecessary uses.
- Reuse: Replace disposable items with reusable alternatives.
- Rethink Uses: Redesign services and user experiences to move away from single-use consumption in a lasting way.
- Manage Waste: Reduce littering, improve waste sorting, and organize collection systems. While this lever remains necessary, it only addresses the consequences rather than the root causes of the problem. We therefore recommend using it as a complementary measure rather than a primary strategy.
These actions can be implemented across different areas depending on a local authority’s priorities: internal administration, public facilities and events, public spaces, and the territory’s economic sectors.
How can local stakeholders be supported?
The transition cannot simply be mandated—it must be built collaboratively with the stakeholders involved by addressing their practical concerns: Am I affected by the regulations? Where should I start? What alternatives are available? How can I convince my team?
Circulab’s experience, particularly through the “Paris du Zéro Plastique” program, has shown that several approaches are especially effective:
- Establishing a common framework through sector-specific guidelines, clear commitment plans, structured support pathways, and certification schemes.
- Raising awareness of regulations and environmental and health impacts.
- Providing individual and collective support for transition initiatives.
- Equipping stakeholders with practical, user-friendly tools.
- Bringing together diverse stakeholders to foster collaboration and synergies.
- Recognizing and promoting achievements through labels and certifications.
Measuring progress: the importance of indicators
Numerous methodologies exist for measuring efforts to reduce single-use plastics, including indicators related to resources deployed, actions implemented, and overall impacts achieved.
However, as part of our work with the City of Paris, we chose to introduce a more practical metric based on the concept of “plastic avoided.” While not without limitations—particularly regarding implementation, measurement in both weight and units, and potential rebound effects—this indicator enabled us to develop the first “avoided plastic calculator.”
This tool provides a consistent, accessible, and practical framework for measuring progress across a territory.
In Paris, systematic monitoring since 2020 has made it possible to quantify 98.4 tonnes of plastic avoided, including 45 tonnes during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the elimination of 6 million single-use plastic items in the administrative restaurants of the Paris Public Hospitals Authority.
This methodology can be adopted as is or adapted to suit the objectives and challenges of a particular territory. Additional implementation indicators can complement the monitoring process, such as:
- Number of participating businesses;
- Number of drinking fountains installed and cubic metres of water consumed;
- Number of people reached through awareness-raising activities;
- Number of events committed to an environmental charter.
What local authorities stand to gain
Local authorities have a leading role to play on several fronts:
- Complying with regulations within their own operations by incorporating zero-plastic criteria into public procurement processes, including catering, event management, and cleaning services.
- Supporting and coordinating local stakeholders, including public employees, businesses, restaurants, associations, and residents.
- Turning regulatory obligations into opportunities by enhancing territorial attractiveness, stimulating the local economy, and improving residents’ quality of life.
Strong political leadership is essential to overcome barriers such as limited human resources, infrastructure financing needs, and the lack of local washing and reuse facilities. However, meaningful action is possible at every level, regardless of a territory’s current stage of engagement.
This article and its key insights are drawn from our five years of supporting the City of Paris in its efforts to reduce single-use plastics.
To go further, Circulab also offers methodologies and tailored support programs for local authorities seeking to accelerate their transition away from single-use plastics.
