In recent years, regulatory momentum around sustainability and consumer protection has intensified. At the forefront of this shift is France’s AGEC Law, officially introduced through Decree No. 2022-748, which enforces a landmark requirement: new, waste-generating products placed on the French market must come with clear, accessible, and digitally formatted environmental disclosures.
If you manufacture, import, or sell new textile products in France—especially online—this guide will help you understand what the law requires, who it applies to, and how to ensure your business stays compliant.
Official Title
Decree No. 2022-748 of 29 April 2022 relating to consumer information on the environmental qualities and characteristics of waste-generating products
Jurisdiction
France
Focus Areas
Consumer Protection, Environmental Transparency, Product Labelling
Status
In effect since January 2023, with staggered compliance deadlines based on company size and product volume
Why Loi AGEC Matters
At its core, the Loi AGEC Decree aims to strengthen environmental accountability and consumer trust. It requires that any business placing certain types of new, “waste-generating” products on the French market provide transparent, standardised data about each product’s environmental impact. This includes everything from recyclability and use of recycled materials to the presence of microplastics and country-of-origin traceability.
In short: if you’re selling textiles in France, your product needs a Digital Product Passport (DPP).
Who Must Comply?
Loi AGEC applies to businesses that:
- Sell covered products such as clothing, home textiles, footwear, and leisure goods
- Place more than 10,000 units per year on the French market
- Generate annual revenue of over €10 million
Importantly, this includes companies outside France that sell directly to French consumers via e-commerce platforms or marketplaces.
Second-hand and refurbished products are excluded from the scope of this regulation.
What Must Be Disclosed?
Product-specific environmental information must be made readily available to consumers at the time of purchase and meet the following criteria:
- Provided in French
- Accessible electronically via a QR code or equivalent
- Free of charge
- Downloadable in a structured, user-friendly format
- Available for at least two years after the product’s market placement
Key Data Points for Textile Products
Under Article R541-221 of the Environmental Code, textile producers must disclose the following:
Recycled content: What percentage of the product and its packaging is made from recycled materials?
Recyclability: Can the product be recycled at end-of-life?
Hazardous substances: Does the product contain any regulated harmful substances?
Traceability: Where were the key manufacturing steps—such as weaving, dyeing, and assembly—carried out?
Microplastics: Does the product contain synthetic fibres that shed microplastics?
Each of these data points contributes to a clearer environmental profile for the consumer.
Timeline: Who Needs to Comply, and When?
Compliance deadlines are phased in according to annual turnover and product volume:
Even if you’ve not yet reached the compliance threshold, now is the time to prepare. Building traceability and reporting capabilities can take months.
What You Can’t Say Anymore
Since April 30, 2022, the Decree prohibits the use of environmental claims such as “biodegradable,” “eco-friendly,” or equivalent terms on product packaging or marketing materials for new consumer goods. These terms are considered vague and potentially misleading without supporting scientific evidence and standardization.
Industry Impact
Loi AGEC represents a fundamental shift in how sustainability claims are regulated and how environmental data must be managed and presented. It pushes brands toward greater supply chain transparency, digital traceability, and product-level environmental intelligence.
For textile brands, this means re-evaluating your sourcing, data collection, and labelling practices. For retailers, it means verifying that upstream suppliers can provide verified environmental declarations. For digital platforms, it means integrating environmental data into the user experience.
Preparing for Compliance
If your organization falls within scope, here’s how to get started:
- Audit your product categories: Confirm whether you offer any of the listed “waste-generating” products.
- Map your supply chain: Identify where in the lifecycle data needs to be collected.
- Build your DPP: Use a solution that can generate Digital Product Passports in the required format, connected to QR codes and updated dynamically.
- Inform your teams: Train your marketing, product, and compliance teams on the legal requirements and prohibited claims.
- Monitor updates: French environmental regulations are evolving—ongoing monitoring is essential.
Loi AGEC is more than a compliance obligation—it’s part of a broader transition to product transparency and circular economy practices. By proactively aligning with these regulations, companies can avoid penalties and also earn consumer trust and gain a competitive edge in the sustainability-driven future of fashion and retail.
For more guidance on building your product compliance strategy or implementing Digital Product Passports, reach out to the team at SmartDPP.
Resources: Décret n° 2022-748 du 29 avril 2022 relatif à l'information
