A bulk sales department in the cooperative supermarket La Louve, in 2017 in Paris -

CHAMUSSY / SIPA

The National Assembly supported the development of bulk sales on Friday, while taking care to provide exemptions for certain businesses such as spirits or perfumeries.

This device was adopted at first reading by the deputies, who are examining the “climate and resilience” bill.

Article 11 of the text sets, for businesses of more than 400 m2, a target of 20% of the sales area devoted by 2030 to bulk sales, in order to reduce packaging and waste.

Amendments by Thibault Bazin and Annie Genevard (LR), as well as the co-rapporteur Aurore Bergé (LREM), were adopted so that the implementing decrees take into account the specificities of certain businesses.

Wines, cosmetics and perfumes taken into account

"We must not put a number of distribution networks in difficulty," acknowledged the Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili, who defends this text in the hemicycle.

She notably cited wines and spirits, cosmetics or perfumes, which are difficult to sell "in bulk".

Elected representatives of the majority and the opposition who have worked on this point with the Tara ocean defense foundation have obtained a ban from 2025 on single-use plastic packaging made of polymers and copolymers, with the aim of encourage the use of bulk.

Samples and reduced leaflets, deposit on the glass

MEPs also adopted measures to combat the distribution of samples unless expressly requested by the consumer, in order to combat waste.

A three-year experiment is also planned to reduce the distribution of leaflets in letter boxes, but also to assess the impact for the paper sector and that of recycling in particular.

The Assembly closed the examination of Title 1 of the “Consumers” bill with the adoption of article 12 aiming at the generalization of the deposit for glass packaging without moving the wording of a measure that was largely revised during its passage in special committee.

The deputies continued by validating the provision of spare parts for certain categories of products provided for by article 13. It provides in particular for the availability from 2023 of spare parts for motorized DIY and gardening tools or bicycles during at least five after the end of the marketing of the product.

Environmental criteria in public procurement

In the evening, the hemicycle began to debate the strengthening of environmental clauses and criteria in public contracts.

During the examination of this article 15, the deputies, ignoring the opinion of the government which argued of legal risks, included provisions reinforcing the “social” clauses in the award of contracts.

In the viewfinder of these amendments carried by both LR deputies and by certain "walkers": the inclusion of long-term unemployed or the development of the social and solidarity economy.

"Each time you add things, we unravel this law", warned the general rapporteur of the text, Jean-René Cazeneuve (LREM) with in the background the risks of unconstitutionality of these additions.

Members will continue consideration of clause 15 on Tuesday afternoon.

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