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Home > Magazine > Nature and environment > The Triman logo - what it means and how it works!

The Triman logo - what it means and how it works!

27.06.2023 | Birgit Brüggehofe | Nature and environment

Triman Logo: These obligations apply when shipping to France

Green dot, crossed-out trash can - well-known recycling symbols, but not the only ones: For German entrepreneurs who regularly ship goods to France, the Triman logo plays a major role. That's news to you? Here comes your Triman guide, with everything you need to know about the new labeling requirements for France!

What is the Triman logo?

The amendment of the EU Packaging Directive brought new challenges for manufacturers and retailers; special adjustments must also be made for France regarding the labeling of packaging. Do you regularly export to this neighboring country? Since January 1, 2022 and according to Decree No. 2014-1577, the - internationally uniform - Triman logo must appear on packaging and recyclable goods. In this way, consumers know at a glance that products labeled in this way belong in the recycling or waste paper garbage can instead of ending up in household waste. If the Triman logo is missing, the packaging belongs in the residual waste. What the packaging is made of - whether cardboard, metal, plastic, etc. - is of secondary importance. Non-recyclable shipping boxes and second-hand goods must also bear the Triman logo. The only decisive factor is that first-time distributors are subject to the new rules.

Das Triman Logo für Frankreich
Das Trimanlogo mit der Infotri-Hinweis

How do you recognize the Triman logo plus separation notice?

The Triman logo as a pictogram shows a person with an outstretched arm: three arrows point in different directions, an all-around arrow stands for the circular economy. Symbol for environmentally conscious citizens who know that goods and packaging belong in the appropriate recycling. Directly next to it, the so-called info tri can be seen in bar form - depending on the type of disposal in yellow (for the yellow garbage can) or green (for glass) including the correct collection container.  The respective separable packaging components are listed in a zone - not highlighted in color - by pictogram and/or text note. Uniform and easy-to-understand pictograms are available in special libraries sorted by product groups, e.g. food packaging, and so on. You sell items in sets? You only need one sorting instruction per packaging material type and indicate this on the outer packaging. To be precise: If, for example, you send three coffee mugs in poly bags with polystyrene protection in one package, it is sufficient if there is a pictogram for each type of packaging on the outside of the box.

What is the structure of the Triman logo and how do you read it?

Triman logo and info tri are to be applied directly to product or packaging - in black and white and at least six millimeters in size. If this is not feasible, the Triman logo may alternatively appear on enclosed documents such as instruction manuals, etc. The separation notice appearing with the Triman logo may have French text form or symbol form. Attention: For packages that are not only on the road in France, but also in other French-speaking markets, you should indicate FR as the country code in addition to the Triman Logo. This makes it transparent that the Triman Logo sorting rules only apply to France. In addition, you can inform consumers on a voluntary basis in text form to separate all parts of the packaging before disposing of it. Auch Recycling codes also inform consumers and retailers about used packaging material and proper recycling.

Structure Triman logo
In a nutshell: The Triman Logo
  • has to be printed together with a recycling or sorting instruction
  • is not allowed to be colorful or show the company colors, it has to be black and white
  • is not overlaid by other visual elements
  • is 0.6 cm wide or more
  • is never smaller than the sign appearing next to it

The most frequently asked questions about the Triman logo

What are the deadlines for the Triman logo?

There is a transition period for the old labeling rule until June 16, 2023, and packaging produced before Sept. 9, 2022, that you purchased by then may still be put into circulation after that date. Once this stock is used up, the exemption also ends. This only applies to products that have already been placed on the market in France - which is why German companies should have everything labeled with the Triman logo as of the deadline of Sept. 8, 2022, although this is not the case. In addition, for certain product groups such as electronics, textiles or furniture, for example, other EPR regulations apply in France than in Germany.
 

EPR obligation - what is it?

Triman logo and Info-Tri as mandatory labeling for all products are subject to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a new manufacturer obligation, which informs consumers about the correct disposal at the end of the product's life. This is because a manufacturer is responsible for what it produces, from design to distribution to take-back - and therefore also for proper disposal and recycling. EPRs connected to a take-back system in France are monitored by ADEME (Environment and Energy Agency). In Germany, electronics (EEE), batteries and accumulators, and packaging are covered by EPR regulations; product manufacturers carry an EPR number. For each EPR, there is a list of product generic terms. How recycling is regulated in other countries, such as Italy, can be found here.


To which products and market players does the Triman logo apply?

  • - Clothing and shoes
  • - Paper printed products
  • - Electrical appliances
  • - Packaging
  • - Batteries
  • - Accumulators
  • - Car tires
  • and much more.
 
The labeling obligation only applies to goods and packaging produced for use in private households. Printing on goods for exclusive commercial use is not permitted. If the Triman logo and Info-Tri separation notice are on the packaging or, alternatively, directly on the product, the symbol for the respective waste stream must also be visible (in addition to the symbol for household packaging). In France, for example, goods such as electrical appliances, batteries, lights and solar panels must carry the so-called Info-Tri as a mandatory sorting notice. This way, French consumers know that such devices belong in separate collections - and which collection points accept them. Important for these waste streams: The Triman logo is not mandatory, but can be replaced by the EU symbol of the crossed-out trash can. Also, in contrast to normal household packaging, a more generous deadline applies to electronics: products manufactured up to and including December 15, 2022, may still be offered in France without labeling until June 15, 2023.
 

What are the Triman guidelines for furniture?

Because the new regulations for the Info-Tri sorting notice already appeared here at the end of 2021, the deadlines for the packaging labeling of these goods were also adjusted. Furniture produced after December 9, 2022 at the latest must bear the Triman logo plus sorting notice - on the piece of furniture itself, the packaging or the accompanying documents. You can order customized furniture packaging such as folding boxes and have them digitally printed with the necessary markings. An illustration on the website alone is not enough; the supplementary illustration of the markings in the online store is expressly recommended. The sale of produced goods without the Triman logo is still permitted until June 9, 2023. In addition, furniture stores are required to display the notice Donnez ou recyclez vos meubles (Return or recycle furniture).
 

What are the penalties for failing to comply with Triman's obligations?

Ignorance does not protect against punishment. B2B packaging is packaging that does not go to the end consumer. Because they are therefore not disposed of there, they are not subject to the labeling obligation. The economic operators themselves are responsible for proper disposal. All other manufacturers must comply with their labeling and information requirements as described. However, the penalties for non-compliance have changed: Whilst previously fines of up to EUR 100,000.00 and imprisonment of up to two years were threatened, violations of rule-compliant Triman logo affixing are now punishable according to Art. L541-9-4 of the French environmental law, fines of up to 3,000 euros for natural persons and up to 15,000 euros for legal persons or companies can be expected. Penalties calculated on the basis of various criminal records. Where registration and notification obligations of distributors are concerned, the number or volume of products does not matter. You run an online store? Then it is advisable to implement the new requirements for the French market as soon as possible!
 

France: Special way recycling labeling - now think about Triman

Admittedly, France takes some - rather complex - special paths when it comes to recycling labeling. It's not so easy to ensure that the Triman logo is affixed if you're an online store operator outside of France, is it? For example, because as a retailer you have no influence on the application of the symbol when using international packaging. Or whether the manufacturer correctly prints the Triman logo on the goods you offer. Either way, the new labeling requirements are now written into the Code de I' environnement and have been in effect since January 1, 2022. Any questions? We are happy to answer them. E-commerce is booming in France. Which is why it is worthwhile for entrepreneurs to always be up to date with the latest EU packaging directives!


 
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