Prevention and Eco-Design Plan: what the loi AGEC requires of market players

The loi Anti-Gaspillage pour une Économie Circulaire (AGEC) has disrupted business practices in France. Under Article 72, companies placing products on the French market are now required to formalise a Plan de Prévention et Éco-conception (PPE) to reduce the environmental impact of their products. Where do things currently stand, and how can businesses ensure compliance effectively?

What is the prevention and eco-design plan?

Introduced as part of the loi AGEC, the PPE is a mandatory strategic document for businesses placing products on the French market. It requires companies to define precise indicators and measurable objectives to be achieved over a five-year period, with obligatory submission to relevant éco-organismes.

Businesses are expected to focus their efforts on three main areas:

1. Reducing the use of non-renewable resources
2. Increasing the incorporation of recycled materials in their products
3. Enhancing the recyclability of products within French recycling infrastructures

This presents a significant challenge: balancing environmental imperatives with economic and industrial realities!

Mixed results: where does the implementation of the PPE stand?

Since this requirement came into effect, the rollout of PPEs has varied across sectors. The éco-organismes, responsible for collecting and analysing these plans, report mixed figures:

• 72% of members of Refashion, the éco-organisme for the textile sector under the REP scheme, have initiated the process.
• However, only 27% of household members of Ecosystem, one of the éco-organismes in the WEEE sector (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), have taken the plunge.

These disparities highlight uneven awareness levels and the difficulties some organisations face in integrating these requirements into their processes. Yet, as the saying goes: The best waste is the waste we don’t produce.

How to build a robust and realistic PPE

A successful PPE requires a structured approach that combines strategic vision with operational feasibility. Here are the key steps:

1. Engage your teams: Extended Producer Responsibility (Responsabilité Élargie du Producteur or REP) is not solely the responsibility of the environmental department. Involve your design, production, and R&D teams for a collective commitment.
2. Understand your obligations: Begin with an in-depth analysis of your production chain to identify the resources, materials, and processes affected by the loi AGEC’s priority areas.
3. Define relevant indicators: Choose indicators that reflect your goals, ensuring they are measurable and aligned with your sector’s specificities. Examples include the proportion of recycled materials used or the average recyclability of products.
4. Seek expert guidance: At EVEA, we support businesses across various sectors—furniture, packaging, textiles, digital, chemicals, construction—to develop realistic and robust PPEs. We help translate your ambitions into concrete actions, ensuring compliance with regulations and meeting growing customer demands.

Why act now?

Beyond being a legal obligation, the PPE represents a strategic opportunity:

• Reduce costs through eco-design
• Strengthen your brand image by adopting responsible practices
• Anticipate future, stricter regulations

Failure to act risks leaving you behind in a market where sustainability is increasingly a key expectation for consumers and business partners alike.

Taking action with EVEA

Implementing a Plan de Prévention et Éco-conception may seem complex, but it is crucial to meet the challenges of the loi AGEC and societal expectations. Whether you are still in the planning stage or looking to optimise your approach, we are here to help.

Want to learn more? Contact us today to turn regulatory obligations into a performance driver. ■

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Gwenaëlle Souffran, Sustainable Digital Lead, and Pauline Chenuet, Project Manager for Digital at EVEA