FRANCE

The French water pollution

challenge
Anna Besse - Emma Engelvin - Geoffrey Lesguillier - Juliette Lesné
"By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans," according to a UN report.
France, the biggest polluter of plastic waste around the Mediterranean, is particularly affected by this issue. Indeed, the country owns the second largest exclusive
economic zone due to its numerous overseas territories and the mainland is bordered by four different seas : the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean ,
the North Sea and the English Channel. Besides, mass tourism on the coasts and poor waste management are also explanations for France's low ranking.
This is why public authorities and associations are exerting themselves to try and find solutions to counter this scourge.

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The French action to address the issue of pollution 79% plastic that comes from

legislation by the government civic commitment

excessive production and
consumption
CLEANING AWARENESS

WHAT? "Dieux du sale", a bold and ecological calendar. The French

the end of single-use plastic association, Wings of the Ocean has reappropriated the codes of
RAISING

the charming calendar by featuring naked activists in the middle of

The October 2017 law sets a goal of ending the marine plastic waste.
marketing of single-use plastic packaging by 2040. HOW? By using art and nudity to raise the awareness about marine
Since 2020, plastic bags have been banned so are plastic pollution. The aim is to popularize their messages to make
straws, cotton buds and there is a growing people aware of the need to act.
limitation of plastic water bottles WHERE? In the Bassin de Berre to the West of Marseille.

WHAT ? Cleanwalk, a concrete action. On your own or with others, pick up

waste on the beaches, while enjoying the walk, you will understand directly

national strategy: the 3 Rs

the need to use plastic sensibly. You don't have to be a politician or an
expert to prevent plastic pollution, everyone can get involved, and these

reduction reuse recycling France's cleanwalks are proof of that. The eponymous association has counted nearly
2130 such events in France since 2019, a testimony to citizens' lively
France aims to achieve a reduction target, a reuse commitment to this issue.
HOW? By collecting waste accumulated on the shore.
target and a recycling target which are set by decree
for the 2021-2025 period by finding alternatives to
plastic. If this is not possible, plastic must be recyclable
Solutions WHERE? Everywhere.

or reusable.
WHAT? Plastic Odyssey, an ecological and social development project. A three-year
RECYCLING

maritime expedition to tackle plastic pollution. Instead of cleaning up the oceans

directly, their odyssey aims to reduce plastic pollution at its source by working
beginning of a circular upstream with local populations on solutions to prevent land-based waste from

economy
ending up in the sea.
ute, 19
HOW? 1) By raising public awareness of the need to reduce the use of plastic and by
Every min
To reduce the use of plastic, France requires tons of p
lastic supporting the emergence of sustainable local recycling initiatives
ed into
are dump 2) By transforming non-recyclable plastics into energy for ship.
supermarkets of more than 400m² to offer the
20% of their sales in reusable containers by 2.2 million ocean, th
e WHERE? A French boat that will travel to the least developed countries especially in
t of a
2030. This is called the development of bulk tonnes of equivalen coastal cities in Africa, South America and Asia.
truck
plastic packaging garbage
buying in supermarkets. are put on the
market each
year in France