According to foreign media, France introduced a new decree requiring all disposable tableware to contain at least 50% biodegradable components that can decompose at home by 2020, rising to 60% by 2025. France thus became the world's first country to ban disposable plastic cups and plates nationwide.

To mitigate climate change impacts, France launched the Green Growth Energy Transition Act last year with significant results. The recent measure supplements that legislation.

France aims to be a global leader in environmental protection and energy solutions. The Paris Climate Conference in November provided strong momentum.

According to the French health and environment association, 150 disposable cups are discarded per second in France—4.73 billion per year—with only about 1% recycled, mainly because they are made of polypropylene and polystyrene.

The plastic tableware ban has drawn both praise and criticism. Pack2Go Europe, representing the food packaging industry, argues the move violates EU free movement of goods rules and plans legal action with the European Commission.

There is ongoing debate in science and manufacturing over whether biodegradable plastics are greener than alternatives. Researchers at Wageningen University note that truly suitable packaging meeting strict food hygiene, consumer needs and home degradability may not yet exist at scale.