Information linked to a product's environmental attributes
Where do new products come from? How are they manufactured? To what extent are they recyclable?New compulsory info in France with AGEC legislation.
Adopted in 2020 in France, AGEC legislation (Anti Gspillage pour une Economie Circulaire = Fight against Waste for the Circular Economy) aims to shift production methods and consumption habits towards, as its name suggests, a more circular model. How? By making a certain number of elements mandatory.
What is AGEC legislation?
In France, AGEC legislation is a set of 130 articles (divided into five strategic orientations: phase out single-use plastic, better inform consumers, fight against waste and support charitable reuse, fight against planned obsolescence, and produce better). Article 13 refers to the requirement to disclose a product's environmental attributes and features to the consumer.
What is included in article 13 of AGEC legislation?
A certain number of requirements:a part refers to packaging (its compostability, incorporating of recycled materials or the potential to reuse packaging…), and the other to products (the presence of rare-earth elements or precious metals in electrical or electronic products).
For clothing and footwear, for example, it will also be necessary to specify traceability elements: where was the fabric made? dyed? spun?
The law also provides information on the release of microplastics into the oceans.
A legal requirement in France
Since 1 January 2023, textiles, electrical and electronic equipment and footwear have been affected by this new regulation.
On 1 January 2024, sports and leisure articles and toys will be covered.
And what difference will there be in the end with the “made in”?
AGEC legislation is more stringent because it also affects the countries where dyeing, weaving, etc, is done and not only the country of origin where the product was subject to the last substantial transformation.Good news, subsequently, to help better understand that each product has an impact and provide consumers with guidance to make their choices.
What does the law contain, apart from article 13?
Lots of interesting things! It also refers to recyclability : the idea is to fast track this issue by systematically installing recycling collection points.
At DECATHLON, this means that from 1 January 2023 (or even earlier), all DECATHLON shops in France will have bins for collecting sports equipment. The aim is to collect used sports articles to ensure that the waste is recycled as much as possible. Decathlon is also allowed to take items (even from other brands) that can be recycled and use them in a closed loop.
In concrete terms, this means that DECATHLON can collect sleds, flippers, etc. from its own brands, but not only, to recycle them if they are made from recyclable materials.
More broadly, this recycling will also involve the creation of a "sports goods" bin in waste disposal centres. Now you know what to do with that broken swimming costume :)
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