French Environment Law.

Yesterday, the French National Assembly voted unanimously a ban on all plastic bags by 2010 (as you can read here in French). This means that selling and making plastic bags will be unlawfull on the French territory. This aslo comes with a campaign launched in the media to encourage the recycling of waste.

It is about time! France is really behind other European countries in that matter. Despite Chirac's promises, not much has been done in the last few years. (like most other promises, needlsess to say)

Now, it seems to me that while plastic bags are still common in the US, paper bags have been the norm in grocery stores for a very long time. I wonder why that is. I'd be tempted to think that it is because they end up being less costly as otherwise, packaging in the U.S. is not necessarily particularly environment-friendly. Besides, it is a lot easier to use paper bags when you go straight to your car than when you have to take the bus or the subway and walk with them for a while. Of course, like most things in the U.S. it also depends on what part of the country you live in.

In any case, I don't think the French are going to be using paper bags. What may actually result from the French ban is a wider use of biodegradable plastic bags made with plant-base material as you can read here.