Digital Product Passport Regulation: AGEC Law

The AGEC law, or Loi AGEC is a comprehensive anti-waste French law that aims to reduce the amount of waste, and create requirements for products in France. The official name of the law is Decree No. 2022-748, and it relates to consumer information on the environmental qualities and characteristics of products that generate waste.

This information to be made available should be electronically accessible when you purchase the product. It can be accessed through digital product sheets. Product-specific webpages are a practical way of meeting the Loi AGEC accessibility requirements.

Digital Product Passports, which consumers can access through data carriers like QR codes are also perfect for implementing this regulation. Due to the Loi AGEC, many retailers and manufacturers in France are implementing DPPs into their products in order to ensure compliance.  

Overview Of The AGEC Law

Decree No. 2022-748, which is part of the French Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Law (AGEC), is a regulation that aims to promote sustainability in consumption. That is, creating requirements for producers and retailers to disclose information about the environmental impact of some products.

There is a wide range of products that fall under the AGEC law, including furniture and textiles. The law mandates that consumers should have access to information about a products recyclability and the necessary materials. The law was designed to enable consumers make eco-friendly choices when purchasing products.

The decree requires manufacturers, retailers, and importers that bring new waste-generating products into the French market, to release information about the environmental characteristics and durability of products. 

Companies must also meet two conditions: placing over 10,000 units of relevant products on the market, and a minimum annual turnover of 10 million euros. The AGEC law came into force on the 1st of January, 2020, and on January 1st, 2023, new measures applying to the textile industry were introduced.

Key Takeaways From The AGEC Law

The key takeaways from the AGEC law include:

• New and waste-generating products in the French market require DPPs.
• New consumer products and packaging are prohibited from having claims like “biodegradable” and “eco-friendly”.
• In-scope products require QR codes with specific data points that disclose the environmental effects of products.

Industries the DPP AGEC Law Applies To

The Loi AGEC applies to new products that are introduced into the French market, and are tagged as “waste-generating”. According to Article L. 541-10-1 of the Environmental Code, product categories that can be called “waste-generating” include, but are not limited to:

• New textiles like clothing, shoes, or household linen for individuals.
• New textile products for homes.
• Furnishing elements, sleeping products, textile decorations, and upholstered seatings.
• Leisure and Sporting articles.

The AGEC law applies to any business that produces, imports, or distributes certain product categories. This includes online companies, and companies that sell through platforms and other digital channels, whether located in France or not. Your company must comply with the AGEC law if you meet these conditions:

• Your products fall under the “new and waste-generating” products category.
• You introduce these products into the market, whether online or offline.

The deadline for your business to comply with the Loi AGEC depends on the total revenue your company generates annually, and the volume of products that fall under the category that you sell in France.

How The AGEC Law Impacts DPP

The AGEC law is closely related to Digital Product Passports, as it is a practical way of sharing the specific product information required by the law with consumers. The aim of the law is to promote sustainable consumption by arming consumers with knowledge of how products impact the environment.

The product information to be communicated with the final consumer will be accessible through Digital Product Passports. Through the DPP, the AGEC law can make information on material percentages, characteristics, and product recyclability available to everyone. 

AGEC Law Product Information Requirements 

The information requirements for your company’s product depends on what category it falls under. Each product category has specific requirements, and these requirements are outlined in Article R541-221 of the decree. For new textile products entering into the French market, the required information include:

• How much of the product or packaging is made up of recycled materials?
• Harmful substances that are present in the product.
• How well can the product be recycled after its lifespan.
• Are there any Microplastics?
• Countries the various assembly process took place.

Final Words 

The Digital Product Passport regulation: AGEC law, is a law that aims at improving the transparency of information provided on waste-generating and new products. The Decree aims to promote sustainability in consumption by raising consumer awareness on specific product information like recyclability, and microplastics composition.

DPPs are a practical means for complying with the AGEC law, and several companies have started providing crucial product sustainability information for their products. 

To find out more about the DPP AGEC law, you can book a session or call with our experts.