"We absolutely must step up our efforts in the circular economy" (Mathieu Lefèvre, Minister)

“It is imperative that, collectively, we step up our efforts in the area of the circular economy,” said Mathieu Lefèvre, French Minister of State for Ecological Transition, during his opening address at the 19^th National Conference on Waste and the Circular Economy in Nantes on 30 September 2026.

“We have made progress, but recycled materials account for only 17 per cent of the materials used, and the reuse rate remains marginal, with less than 2 per cent of packaging placed on the market being reused: our economy is still too linear, and all of this comes at a cost. Today, we are going to go all out on industrialisation,” the minister continued.

In his speech, the Minister for Ecological Transition outlined a series of measures designed to promote the French circular economy: €150…