France passed a law to outright ban the use of all plastic cutlery in an effort to fight man-made global warming, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
The law, which goes into effect in 2020, mandates that all disposable utensils and dishes must be made of biological, rather than petroleum-based, material. It is part of the Energy Transition for Green Growth, a plan that amps up France’s efforts to combat climate change.
Environmental groups are in favor of the move, but other organizations argue it violates European Union rules on free movement of goods.
France was pushed into banning hydraulic fracking three years ago after significant activist fervor — the move is likely to hurt the country, as citizens receive roughly 40 percent of their natural gas from the U.S.
French government officials announced in May that they are looking to ban the import of fracked natural gas from America.
Paris enacted a citywide ban on old vehicles to cut down on pollution. The move drew the ire of Parisians, as some suggested the law discriminates against poor people, French media outlet Le Monde reported in July.
