LE MAG
Thématiques
CITEO your ally
for a circular packaging and paper economy
Do you sell packaged products in France that are intended for household consumption? Do you commission printed materials for your own use, such as catalogues, leaflets, instructions or posters? If so, you are legally required to manage and finance the end-of-life treatment of your packaging and printed paper. This is known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), as provided for by the French Environmental Code since 1992, in particular ( Articles L.541-10 and L.541-10-1.)
CITEO is a non-profit, purpose-driven company approved by the French public authorities. By joining Citeo, you can fulfil this legal obligation by entrusting us with the management and financing of the end-of-life treatment of your household packaging and graphic paper.
Citeo’s answers to your questions :
Click on the question that interests you to go directly to the answer :
Scope of the EPR scheme
household packaging and graphic paper
Household packaging
EPR applies primarily to household packaging, which has been the case since the system was set up in 1992. As such, all companies placing packaged products intended for French end consumers in the French market are subject to EPR.
Household packaging includes ‘primary’ packaging that comes into contact with products, such as plastic packets, cardboard boxes, bottles and caps, trays, cups, etc., as well as shipping packages, shopping bags, product labels, kraft paper, nets, etc. Packaging may be considered as items that consumers are likely to dispose of once they have been used.
Graphic paper
you are subject to EPR if you have a printed paper item produced on your behalf whose grammage is ≤ 224 g/m2 and you place it in the French market. However, blank paper is declared directly by the companies manufacturing it.
The graphic paper products concerned include, but are not limited to : brochures, leaflets, catalogues, magazines, newspapers, mailings, headed paper, corporate documents, personalised envelopes, posters, user manuals, decorative paper, receipts, tickets, etc.
The scheme applies to all paper placed in the French market, irrespective of the paper’s end recipients (households, professionals, public entities, etc.).
Catering packaging
Since 1 January 2024, following the creation of the new EPR scheme for Catering Packaging, the scope of household packaging has been extended to include “small-format” food packaging, also known as “mixed-use food packaging”.
This includes packaging for all food products placed on the French market, whether they are consumed by individuals or by professionals.
If you believe that some of your packaging may fall within this extended scope, we invite you to consult the annex to the Order of 20 July 2023, which sets out the thresholds used to define packaging considered to be “small format”.
“Large-format” packaging, on the other hand, falls under the new EPR scheme for Catering Packaging. Companies concerned by this scheme are therefore legally required to join an approved producer responsibility organisation.
For your information, Citeo has created a subsidiary, Citeo Pro, which is currently the only approved producer responsibility organisation for the Catering Packaging EPR scheme. This new EPR scheme entered into force on 15 March 2024.
Who is subject to EPR?
PRODUCERS
If the product (or printed paper item) is produced in France, for products you package or have packaged under your brand, unbranded or as an own-brand.
IMPORTERS
If the product (or printed paper item) is produced abroad, for packaged products (or printed paper) purchased abroad and resold on the French market.
RETAILERS
For service and shipping packaging intended for consumers, and if acting as an importer.
MARKETPLACES
If third-party sellers have not declared the packaging (or printed paper) for the products sold on your e-commerce platform.
Please note : The EPR scheme applies regardless of the volume of packaging or paper. As soon as you place any packaging or paper in the French market, you have to join a producer responsibility organisation (PRO).
If you only place packaging in the market and no paper (or vice versa), you simply have to specify this every year when submitting your yearly declaration.
EPR representatives and service providers
Have you been appointed by French or foreign companies to act on their behalf in dealings with approved producer responsibility organisations for EPR schemes?
We have set up a dedicated team to support you in carrying out your assignments.
Once registered with us, you benefit from personalised support and can manage all the procedures for your clients who are members of Citeo through our centralised management platform.
How much will I have to pay CITEO?
for the household packaging and graphic paper EPR contribution
For household packaging, the amount of your contribution depends on the number of packaged products (known as CSUs: Consumer Sales Units) placed in the market per year in France. Citeo offers three types of declaration based on that quantity or volume:
For graphic paper, the amount of your contribution will depend on the tonnage of paper produced in France per year. Below are our 2026 prices for Household Packaging and Graphic Paper.
What is my CITEO contribution used for?
Contribution simulator
Dès votre adhésion, vous aurez accès à nos simulateurs de contribution, pour les différentes déclarations proposées. Chaque déclaration a ses spécificités, à vous de choisir la plus adaptée à vos besoins.
How do I get my
Unique Identifier (UIN)?
Since January 1st, 2022, you should be in possession of a unique identifier number (UIN) generated by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME). CITEO takes care of all the administrative steps required by ADEME. You will receive your UIN a few days after becoming a member. Your UIN needs to appear in your T&Cs and any contractual documents.
How can I create my own sorting-info?
Under the AGEC Law, it has been compulsory to add sorting instructions to all household packaging and graphic paper since January 1st, 2022.
Once you join Citeo, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to affix this new sorting-info sign thanks to our exclusive online Sorting-Info creation tool, called “easy Info-tri”.
What steps follow your membership of Citeo?
