All you need to know about the French Packaging Environmental Signage and the Triman Logo for the textile and footwear brands

Is your brand registered in France or simply shipping to French consumers via e-commerce? Then keep reading and ensure your packagings are compliant with the French zero waste law and related Decree.

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What is the Triman logo?

The French Decree No. 2014-1577 has made it mandatory from 1 January 2015 to print the Triman Logo on recyclable products and packaging sold to consumers in France. The main reason for the symbol was to simplify the understanding of how to sort waste. Anything that is considered packaging should be labeled with the Triman Logo and recycling instructions from plastic to organic material.  Even if this does not guarantee that all products will be recycled, the goal is to make sure that packaging waste is collected and sorted for maximized recycling. As a textile or footwear brand, these are the things you should be aware of.

What has changed with the Triman Logo from 2022?

To answer to the French Zero Waste law requiring more information to consumers on how to sort waste, the French packaging waste collection schemes have been published in September 2021, and new signage is to be printed on packaging in France from January 2022, as approved by the French government.

The signage graphic chart is very specific. It includes the Triman logo and sorting instructions. A transition period is in place until 9 March 2023 to give time to all brands to update their packaging. Afterward, packaging that is not compliant with the new packaging waste sorting signage regulation, may no longer be used in the French market.

What are the elements that need to appear on your packaging?

Environmental information is obligatory on the packaging of all garments, home textiles, and shoes and needs to feature:

·    The Triman Logo

·    Apictogram and text identifying the packaging type

·    The voluntary drop-off point symbolized by the pictogram of a container

·    The mention “FR” for brands selling internationally, to identify that the waste instructions are related to the French market.

You must always print the Triman Logo conjointly with recycling and sorting instructions as per the graphic chart conjunctly designed by the French eco-organisms LEKO and CITEO, and approved by the French government.

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Do you find it hard to navigate the requirements? Contact our team to get an introduction to the new signage guidelines and discuss how to apply them to your specific packaging.

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The timeline explained

·        September 9, 2022, is the date when the new waste sorting signage combined with the Triman Logo is mandatory on textiles packaging, shoe packaging, and garment textiles packaging. All packaging produced after this date must bear the correct signage.

·        All stock manufactured before September 9, 2022, without correct signage, should be disposed of and removed by March 2023.

·        Brands falling into the packaging and the textile EPR obligations have until June 2023to comply but acting sooner can help avoid any eventual fines.

Important details to know when preparing your packaging artwork with the new signage

·        The Triman logo requires to come together with sorting depiction, which can be described using French text and symbols. “FR” should be utilized together with the Triman Logo if the product is sent to other French-speaking markets as well.

·        Packaging featuring multiple materials removable by hand can be displayed separately (however, this is not mandatory).

·        The Triman Logo should be a minimum 6 mm and MUST NOT be printed in white.

·        The background of the packaging icon MUST be white (also on transparent packaging such as polybags) to ensure good readability to consumers.

·        The Triman logo requires to come together with sorting depiction, which can be described using French text and symbols. “FR” should be utilized together with the Triman Logo if the product is sent to other French markets as well.

Financial penalty – what happens if you do not comply?

A fine at least equal to the eco-contribution of the packaging producer should be paid to the eco-organism, in case you, as a brand or retailer do not comply with the regulation.

The EPR scheme for your Zalando or Amazon business

Besides using the Triman Logo and waste sorting signage, the French code of the environment, article L. 541-10-9, requires the waste producer (the brand or distributor selling the goods into the French market) to contribute to the waste produced by their products on the French market: called the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). For that reason, as a brand, you must pay a contribution to either CITEO or LEKO eco-organisms for packaging and REFASHION for textiles. Upon payment, you will get a unique ID# from the French eco-organism. This ID# is created by the French Agency of the Environment ADEME upon request from the eco-organism you registered to.

This unique ID# is required to sell garments, shoes, and home textiles to French consumers on e-commerce platforms such as Zalando or Amazon.

Need to audit your current packaging product range? Or are you currently working on new packaging projects? Let us take care of your packaging needs and advise you on the correct applications of the French regulations on the use of the Triman Logo.