Laura Chatel

Zero Waste France is an independently funded French NGO which has been advocating for waste reduction since 1997, talking to local and national public officials as well as citizens groups or businesses. It remains the only French national association specialized in waste-related issues.

Last year, France passed a law to tackle food waste in the distribution sector. Among other measures, the text makes it mandatory for supermarkets of a certain size to hand the leftovers to NGOs. If the text has a strong symbolical value, it is necessary to analyse what are the concrete results to be expected from this law on the battle against food waste and what will be needed in order for it to be effectively implemented. Additionally, a lot of other measures can be taken by supermarkets to reduce food waste. In that respect, some French supermarkets are implementing good practices that would need to become widespread.