The Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy (AGEC) is transforming the way you design, sell, and manage the end of life of products. In 2026, new obligations will further expand its scope, making compliance essential for almost all businesses.

Here is a clear and actionable guide to understanding what the AGEC law entails and how you can prepare for it now.

AGEC Law for Dummies: What Your Company Needs to Know in 2026

Reading time: ~12 min

AGEC Law: a simple explanation for businesses

Enacted in 2020, the AGEC law contains nearly 130 articles aimed at reducing waste, limiting wastefulness, and encouraging recycling and reuse. Rather than treating each topic in isolation, it covers the entire product life cycle.

In practice, this involves three major obligations: 1) knowing what happens to your products after sale; 2) clearly informing your customers about the environmental impact and repairability of your products; 3) financing and organizing collection, sorting, and recycling through the appropriate channels. After an initial phase from 2021 to 2025, the requirements will become more stringent in 2026, which is why it is important to plan your investments in advance and avoid penalties.

The five key areas of the AGEC law

The law is structured around five areas that directly influence your activities.

1 Moving away from single-use plastic

Target: 20% reduction in single-use plastic packaging by the end of 2026, with priority given to reuse. Non-recyclable packaging will be phased out. You must therefore review materials, formats, and inks to switch to recyclable or reusable solutions, and anticipate the end of disposable plastic where alternatives exist.

2 Better inform consumers

Repairability (and subsequently sustainability) ratings are becoming mandatory for certain types of equipment, as are disclosures regarding hazardous substances and recycled content. You must track this information and display it clearly on the product, packaging, or online product sheet.

3 Fighting waste

The destruction of unsold non-food items is prohibited. Donation, repair, reuse, or recycling are now mandatory; this requires partnerships with reuse organizations or internal reconditioning channels.

4 Taking action against planned obsolescence

The availability period for spare parts is getting longer and repairability indices are becoming more widespread. Your after-sales service, inventory, and supplier contracts must be aligned with these requirements.

5 Adopt responsible production practices

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is gaining momentum: eco-design, disassembly, bio-waste management, and participation in EPR schemes are becoming the norm for limiting the impact of your products.

The main AGEC obligations for your company in 2026

Several measures are coming into effect or being expanded this key year.

Extended Producer Responsibility

New categories are joining the EPR professional packaging, DIY and gardening items, toys, sports equipment, oils, sanitary textiles, and fishing gear containing plastic. Producers, importers, or distributors must register with the relevant sectors, obtain an ADEME ID, and finance the end-of-life management of products.

Management of professional textile waste

Companies and local authorities that generate textiles (work clothes, linen, furnishings) must sort this waste separately and ensure that it is reused or recycled.

Separate collection of bio-waste

Restaurants, cafeterias, and industrial sites must set up sorting at source and contract with service providers capable of recovering this bio-waste through composting or methanization.

Eco-modulation of contributions

Financial contributions to recycling channels vary according to environmental impact: a sustainable and easily recyclable product costs less than a complex or difficult-to-repair product, making eco-design an economic lever.

Responsible public procurement

By 2024, public entities must include at least 20% of products derived from reuse, recycling, or repurposing, with this proportion increasing until 2030. It is therefore in the best interests of public procurement suppliers to adapt their offerings accordingly.

Concrete impacts and limitations for your organization

AGEC is not just a matter of formalities: it requires you to review your specifications to incorporate eco-design, audit your waste streams, and prove your compliance ( EPR contracts, sorting reports, traceability). It also creates opportunities: commercial differentiation through sustainable products, innovation, and new partnerships in recycling or repair. The main limitations affect small businesses: regulatory complexity, initial costs, and a schedule that extends until 2040.

How to achieve AGEC compliance in 6 steps

To learn more, discover the detailed steps involved in EPR compliance.

Mini FAQ on the AGEC 2026 law

Who is affected? Almost all companies: producers, distributors, and importers. The 2026 targets mainly focus on EPR sectors, generators of bio-waste or professional textiles, and public procurement.

What are the risks for a company in the event of non-compliance? Financial penalties of up to €75,000 may be imposed for failure to comply with EPR obligations, sorting requirements, or the provision of spare parts.

Does the law only apply in 2026? No: there is a gradual rollout schedule from 2021 to 2040. The year 2026 marks a major milestone with the arrival of the PPWR in August 2026, but other changes will follow.

How can an SME navigate this without a legal department? Three levers: guides from eco-organizations, audits offered by waste service providers, and support tools for structuring an action plan.

In summary, the AGEC law revolutionizes the way you design your products and manage your waste. A clear understanding and a structured action plan reduce your risks and open the door to new opportunities related to the circular economy. For more information, consult the resources available on Compliancr.