The AGEC Act promotes French manufacturers
The AGEC law is good for the planet. By requiring information on the country of garment making, it also gives a real boost to Made in France.
On April 29, a new decree implementing the AGEC law (Anti-waste for the circular economy) was published, obliging clothing, household linen and footwear brands to deliver certain information to consumers, in the form of dematerialized product sheets accessible at the time of purchase (from a website or web page).
In addition to environmental characteristics (recycled material, recyclability, presence of plastic microfibers), traceability is one of the required specifications. This involves indicating the country where each of the following operations is principally carried out: weaving/knitting, finishing (dyeing, printing...) and garment making.
This applies to (larger) producers, importers, distributors and other marketers, particularly online. With a precise timetable. January 1, 2023: players with annual sales in excess of 50 million euros, placing at least 25,000 product units on the French market, must comply. Then, one year later (2024), those with sales of over 20 million euros and at least 10,000 annual units, and finally, at the beginning of 2025, those with sales of over 10 million euros (and still 10,000 units).
Greenwashing is also in the decree's crosshairs: on May 1, 2023, companies with sales in excess of 10 million euros, will have to ban the claims "biodegradable", "environmentally friendly" or any other equivalent environmental claim.
A response to consumer expectations
This regulatory development is excellent news for contract manufacturers and the traceability of Made in France.
It will legally highlight local production, which is virtuous in terms of jobs and sustainable development. Because it emits less CO2 and complies with stricter European rules than those in other manufacturing zones around the world. This new text could also help curb the phenomenon of "franco-lavage", which consists of passing off as "Made in France"products manufactured abroad.
This regulation is a response to growing consumer sensitivity on these subjects. According to an OpinionWay-Première Vision survey of 1,016 French people in February 2022, 61% had bought a garment made in France in the previous year. And for 58%, Made in France is a "priority criterion" in their fashion purchasing acts.
Also, according to a Première Vision-Ifm survey of 7,000 French, German, Italian, British and American respondents conducted in spring 2022, 65.4% of French people had bought at least one eco-responsible fashion product in the previous 12 months. Local production is the first criterion associated with a sustainable approach for 33.4% of French people. This is ahead of the use of green materials (24.5%), environmentally-friendly production (20.5%) and respect for employees and social conditions (14.2%). French contract manufacturers are synonymous with quality, responsiveness and eco-responsibility, and will now be highlighted on the new product sheets. All the more reason for brands to call on the Maison du Savoir-Faire et de la Design's Contract Manufacturers Platform, which will put them in touch with the French manufacturers best able to make their products.
