Monaco bans single-use plastic food packaging from September
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
New rules taking effect on 1 September 2026 prohibit certain single-use plastic packaging for fresh ready-to-eat products and short-shelf-life pre-packaged goods.
From 1 September 2026, a new phase of Monaco's single-use plastics reduction programme comes into force, targeting food packaging that is typically discarded within hours or days of purchase. The restrictions apply to plastic wrapping used for fresh, ready-to-eat products as well as pre-packaged items with a use-by date of less than three days.
The measures focus on the shortest-lived plastics in the food retail chain, which accumulate waste volume disproportionate to their brief useful life. Residents shopping at the Condamine market, supermarkets and delicatessens across the Principality will notice changes to how fresh produce and prepared foods are presented at the point of sale.
The Government has confirmed that consumers will retain access to the same range of products, with retailers expected to switch to compliant alternatives ahead of the deadline. The move continues Monaco's phased approach to eliminating single-use plastics, following earlier restrictions on items such as bags, straws and disposable tableware.