France is to crackdown on the destruction of unsold and returned consumer products in a move expected to affect luxury brands and online retailers. The government said it would impose fines for those who sell goods that have been used or are being sold as "seconds" after they were bought by consumers. The ban, which will apply to non-food goods, including clothes, cosmetics, electrical items and hygiene products, will be introduced within the next four years. The move will make it compulsory to hand in such products, in order that they can be re-used or recycled.
France is to crackdown on the destruction of unsold and returned consumer products in a move expected to affect luxury brands and online retailers. The country’s Prime Minister, Edouard Phillippe, said that over €650m ($732m) worth of new goods were discarded or destroyed in the country each year. The ban, which will apply to non-food goods, including clothes, cosmetics, electrical items and hygiene products, will be introduced within the next four years. The move will make it compulsory to hand in such products, in order that they can be re-used or recycled.