Aiming for zero single-use plastic

3 tips for visitors for a "0 plastic" stay

Piloted and deployed by the Direction de l'Environnement and the Association Ecoscience Provence, the Commerce Engagé® and Restaurant Engagé® labels are tools that help local players and consumers to adopt a sustainable consumption approach. These establishments work on a daily basis to reduce and sort waste, combat food waste and single-use items, support local initiatives, reduce energy and water consumption, and raise customer awareness.

Today, visitors to the Principality have the opportunity to minimise their environmental impact and take action to become a "zero single-use plastic waste" destination by applying 3 simple eco-gestures, grouped together by the Tourism and Convention Authority in a poster distributed to approved establishments.

These commitments are in line with the regulations in force in the Principality:

=> Eco-gesture 1: I put all my purchases in a reusable shopping bag or backpack.

Since 1 June 2016, single-use plastic checkout bags (<50 µm thick, <25l capacity) have been banned (including recycled, biosourced, biodegradable, compostable or oxodegradable plastic bags).

=> Eco-gesture 2: I equip myself with a nomadic kit of reusable cutlery and straw.

Since 1 January 2019 - whether reusable or single-use - all plastic straws have been banned (including straws made from recycled, biosourced, biodegradable, compostable or oxodegradable plastic).
Finally, from 1 January 2022, the free and systematic provision of single-use cutlery will be banned, whatever the material (including bio-sourced and compostable plastics). Customers will therefore have to pay for disposable cutlery, particularly in takeaway outlets.
It is therefore up to the vendor to provide customers, on request only, with non-plastic cutlery in return for a "significant" contribution (to be determined freely, at least equal to the cost price).

=> Eco-gesture 3: I no longer buy disposable plastic bottles; I take a water bottle and fill it up in one of the public fountains.

... and even if the ban on disposable plastic bottles is not yet regulated, this last eco-gesture is no less essential for reducing plastic waste!

Find out more about Committed Shops and Restaurants and geolocated public fountains on YourMonaco.