With the transition to the new year, certain French ecological laws come into force or change.

Single-use plastic straws are now prohibited, for example.

Monday, in "Our planet" on Europe 1, Fanny Agostini takes stock of everything that has just changed.

The coronavirus crisis has tended to favor the use of single-use plastic with the boom in take-out restaurants.

And yet, since January 1, 2021 new rules in favor of ecology have entered into force in France.

Monday, in "Our planet" on Europe 1, Fanny Agostini is interested in what changes this year concerning plastic or even repairs.

"There is indeed something new in 2021, in particular on planned obsolescence. Because the products which go to the dumpster at the slightest breakdown are over. Since January 1, a new repairability index has just entered into. That is to say that on all electrical and electronic products, a brand new label will be displayed to inform the buyer of the possibility that he will have to repair the product himself if it falls. Out of order.

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This applies to a lawn mower, a washing machine as well as a smartphone or a television.

Manufacturers must therefore inform the customer on how to dismantle the device and how to access, above all, spare parts in order to extend the life of all our devices. 

Case by case for plastic

With regard to plastic, the list of prohibited products grows with straws or even toilets.

This is the law that also took effect on January 1.

Good news, but mixed for the fight against single-use plastic, since we are going step by step and especially on a case-by-case basis.

And for now, the bans do not yet cover the full scope of products of the same type.

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Everyday objects, such as detergent cans or toothpaste tubes should disappear much later in France.

Remember the end of single-use plastic is scheduled for 2040. It is progressing slowly.

Especially since in the event of a crisis, we tend to downgrade.

The health crisis has greatly encouraged the use of single-use plastic, in particular with the boom in take-out restaurants and new mobility features.

End of ads stuck behind a wiper

Finally, there are novelties for bicycles.

They must now have an ID if they are purchased new.

The measure will even be extended to second-hand bikes from July 2021. Another change for cars this time: the removal of advertising.

It is not about the elimination of advertising for vehicles in the media, although this is part of the demands that have been made to the government under the Citizen's Climate Convention.

This would be, for once, a real turning point.

But there is talk of a reform a little more anecdotal.

The elimination of paper advertising, the one that gets stuck behind your wiper blades, this pile of flyers on the windshields.

Well there too, tell yourself that it is ancient history.

In 2021, that no longer exists. "