Decarbo'Solution® > Bilan GES > La loi AGEC et ses évolutions pour 2025 : un impact quantifié vers une économie circulaire

The AGEC Act and Its Changes for 2025

Face à l’urgence climatique, à l’épuisement des ressources et à la nécessité de repenser nos modes de production et de consommation. La France s’est dotée d’un cadre ambitieux avec la loi AGEC (Anti-Gaspillage pour une Économie Circulaire), promulguée le 10 février 2020. Cette loi vise à transformer notre rapport aux déchets et aux produits, en introduisant des obligations fortes pour les entreprises, les collectivités et les citoyens. Elle s’inscrit dans un cadre législatif plus large, complété notamment par la loi Climat et Résilience adoptée en 2021.

Covering a broad spectrum—from the fight against single-use plastics to the repair of consumer goods and the promotion of reuse—the AGEC Act embeds the ecological transition into the economic fabric. Its goal: to move away from the linear “produce, consume, dispose” model and foster a circular model that is more frugal, more sustainable, and more competitive in the long term.

In 2025, a turning point will begin with the implementation of new requirements and the strengthening of the so-called “3R” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) regulations. This new phase is accompanied by ambitious quantitative targets, the widespread adoption of the repair bonus, the expansion of EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) programs, and increased support for investment in circular economy solutions. These developments are not merely regulatory; they represent a strategic opportunity for innovative, committed companies capable of adapting their business models.

 3 Contents

The AGEC Act: A Cornerstone of the Circular Economy

Enacted on February 10, 2020, the Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy (AGEC) represents a major step forward in transforming our production and consumption model in France. It directly addresses critical issues such as the management of products, packaging, and waste; reducing plastic use; combating waste; and promoting reuse and repair. In 2025, this law will take on a new dimension with the introduction of decrees and stricter targets, resulting in unprecedented obligations for businesses. Understanding these developments is essential to anticipate the changes and seize the opportunities for a successful transition to a more sustainable economy.

📉A drastic reduction in single-use plastic packaging

The goal is clear: to achieve a 20% reduction in the tonnage of this packaging by the end of 2025, compared to the 2018 baseline year. In the longer term, France aims to completely phase out single-use plastics by 2040, as part of a comprehensive strategy known as the “3Rs.” This trajectory is all the more important given that approximately 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced each year, of which 353 million metric tons become waste.

💡The 3R Decree and the Acceleration of Reuse

The 3R Decree, implemented between 2021 and 2025, plays a central role in achieving mitigation goals. It stipulates that 50% of the reduction in single-use plastic packaging must come directly from reuse or recycling by 2030. This focus is crucial, as currently only 1% of household packaging is reused—far short of the initial target of 5% for 2023.

To drive this momentum, Citeo has already funded 144 projects in 2023 to the tune of 33 M€, with the goal of deploying 30 million reusable packaging units for 16 million citizens by 2025. This effort is accompanied by an annual investment of 50 M€ by Citeo to actively promote reuse.

⚡Ambitious goals

Recycling remains a key pillar of the circular economy. In 2023, the recycling rate for household packaging reached 67 percent. While materials such as glass and steel show high recycling rates (86 percent), plastic (27 percent) and aluminum (37 percent) still have room for improvement.

A specific target has been set for plastic bottles: 77% must be collected for recycling by 2025. To achieve this, local governments received €91 million in 2024 to improve sorting infrastructure, which will result in the recycling of an additional 80,000 metric tons of packaging.

source: Citeo

Challenges and Opportunities for 2025

Beyond packaging, the AGEC Act places particular emphasis on the reuse and repair of products—key measures for extending their lifespan and reducing waste. The year 2025 marks an important milestone in the widespread adoption of these practices.

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💚A strong commitment to the reuse of household packaging

As mentioned earlier, the reuse of household packaging—though still in its early stages (currently at 1%)—is a key focus of the AGEC law. Since the 5% target for 2023 was not met, 2025 will be crucial for stepping up efforts. Citeo’s funding and initiatives—with €33 million invested in 144 projects in 2023 and a goal of 30 million reusable packaging items by 2025—demonstrate a commitment to picking up the pace. Supermarkets with over 200 m² will also have to prepare to take back reusable packaging by January 1, 2028, which will require significant adjustments to logistics and retail locations.

❇️The Sustainability Index and the Repair Bonus: Tools for Consumers

The AGEC Act introducedthe repairability index, which has been mandatory since 2021 for products such as smartphones and household appliances, rating products on a scale from 0 to 10. Starting in January 2025, this index will be supplemented by a durability index, covering a broader range of product categories and providing even more comprehensive information on the longevity and sturdiness of items.

At the same time, the repair incentive, introduced in December 2022, saw an increase in the amounts allocated to encourage consumers to repair their devices rather than replace them. These measures aim to change the habit of buying new items and promote repair.

❗The Expansion of EPR Programs and Requirements for Businesses

The year 2025 will see a significant expansion of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. New product categories will be included, notably DIY products, toys, sports equipment, oils, and sanitary textiles. This means that manufacturers and distributors of these products will now be responsible for managing their end-of-life disposal.

A major requirement—already in effect since 2022 for certain products—will be extended to all unsold non-food items starting in 2025: the ban on destroying them and the requirement to reuse, recycle, or recover them. In addition, the public sector is also being called upon to play its part, with a requirement to include 20% reused or recycled products in its procurement contracts starting in 2024. These measures present challenges but also opportunities for companies to innovate in their business models.

Challenges, Progress, and Support for a Low-Carbon Transition

The AGEC Act has undeniably laid the groundwork for a circular economy in France, but there is still a long way to go. The challenges facing businesses are numerous, requiring investment and strategic adaptation.

💢A Mixed Midterm Assessment: Challenges and Progress

Despite its stated ambitions, the midterm assessment of the AGEC law shows mixed results. Between 2018 and 2021, the volume of single-use plastic packaging actually increased by 3 percent—a figure that runs counter to the 20 percent reduction target.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that France is recognized as a European leader in the fight against planned obsolescence, particularly thanks to the repairability index, the repair bonus, and eco-design initiatives.

📈 Investment Leverage for a Circular Economy

The transition to a circular economy is not just a regulatory requirement; it is also a driver of innovation and investment. EPR sectors offer opportunities to develop new value chains. Patents related to recycling—with 40 to 50 filings per year in France since 2010—reflect active research in this field, even though it lags slightly behind the European average (0.4 patents per 1,000 inhabitants compared to 0.46 per 1,000 inhabitants in the EU).

For businesses, there are many courses of action: eco-design of products, optimization of manufacturing processes to reduce waste, integration of reuse and repair into service models, and investment in innovative recycling technologies.

☁️The Link Between Waste and GHG Emissions

As part of the low-carbon transition, it is essential to recognize the close link between waste management and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The AGEC Act, while focused on the circular economy, also helps reduce the carbon footprint of businesses and local governments.

Waste—particularly that associated with single-use products and plastic packaging—generates emissions at every stage of its life cycle: raw material extraction, production, distribution, use, and end-of-life disposal (incineration, landfilling, or recycling). In France, the waste sector accounts for approximately 3% of national GHG emissions.

Reusing a glass bottle prevents up to 79% of CO₂ emissions compared to a single-use bottle.
Choosing a refurbished laptop saves approximately 27 kg of CO₂ equivalent each year. This choice also helps conserve natural resources by preventing the extraction of 127 kg of raw materials and reducing electronic waste by 314 grams per year.

source: ADEME

In other words, the measures implemented under the AGEC Act also serve as tools for achieving carbon neutrality. That is why they must be aligned with the regulatory GHG assessment (formerly known as Bilan Carbone®), which is mandatory for many companies, in order to fully integrate the circular economy approach into climate strategy.

Decarbo’Solution®: Your Partner for a Successful Low-Carbon Strategy

At Decarbo’Solution®, we firmly believe that no action plan can be implemented without a deep understanding of stakeholders. Decarbo’Solution® offers customized training and support to help organizations make sustainability a core part of their strategy.

To that end, we support you at every stage of your environmental transition through:

👩‍🎓Training on Climate Issues

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Assess Your Situation and Reduce Your Emissions

🤝“Climate Mural” workshops by Decarbo’Solution®

Our carbon engineers, who are trained and experienced in facilitating *La Fresque du Climat* workshops, are available to organize these sessions directly at your company, thereby helping to engage your teams in a concrete climate strategy.
Beyond raising awareness, Decarbo’Solution® supports you in reducing your carbon footprint over the long term, thanks to the various tools available on our platform.

🎦The Decarbo’Solution® Academy

A learning environment to build skills:

Tutorial videos, technical documentation
Detailed FAQs by Topic
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✨ Personalized strategic guidance

Comprehensive GHG Assessment, Including Scope Definition, Data Collection, and Reporting
Our Decarbo’Solutions®, the winning trio for an effective and sustainable environmental transition:

🛠️Decarbo’Supply®: Decarbonize your purchases across your entire supply chain. Reduce the carbon footprint of your products through your suppliers.

🎯Decarbo’Target®: Project your GHG emissions over time.

⚡Decarbo’Tender®: Incorporate carbon performance into your requests for proposals

To support you, Decarbo’Solution®’s carbon engineers—experts in the Bilan Carbone® method (Level 2, ABC) and methodologies such as ADEME’s “Act Pas à Pas”—put their expertise at your organization’s service to guide you step by step toward a sustainable environmental transition.

In 2025, the AGEC law marks a decisive turning point, intensifying the push for a circular economy in France. Despite ongoing challenges—particularly regarding the reduction of plastic packaging—new requirements for reuse, repair, and the expansion of EPR schemes are transforming the economic landscape. These developments represent much more than a constraint: they are a major strategic opportunity. For businesses, now is the time to invest in eco-design, integrate reuse and repair, and innovate with more sustainable business models.

To navigate this complex transition and turn it into a competitive advantage, partners such as Decarbo’Solution® offer turnkey solutions—ranging from training to strategic guidance—to effectively decarbonize and build a sustainable low-carbon strategy. Now is the time for concrete action and innovation to turn these challenges into successes.