France’s AGEC Law and Trade Show Stands | What Exhibitors Should Know

Sustainability & Compliance

France’s AGEC Law and Trade Show Stands: What International Exhibitors Should Know

A practical briefing for exhibitors building a stand in France — by Affaire d’Idées, stand designers since 2009

What is the AGEC law?

The AGEC law (Loi Anti-Gaspillage pour une Économie Circulaire — France’s Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Act, enacted 2020) restructures how French businesses handle materials from production to end of life. For the trade show industry, it directly affects how stands are designed, built, dismantled, and disposed of.

The law rests on five pillars: eliminating single-use plastics, extended product durability requirements, anti-waste measures, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and mandatory environmental labelling. Several provisions are already in force — others phase in progressively through 2027 and beyond.

What already applies to your trade show stand

1. EPR for Construction Materials (PMCB) — in force since 2023

Since 1 January 2023, France operates an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme covering construction and building materials — including the wood panels, metal structures, partitions, and display cases that make up most trade show stands. Manufacturers and importers of these materials must finance their end-of-life collection and recycling.

In practice: your stand builder should be able to confirm that materials come from declared EPR channels, and that dismantling and waste sorting after the show are fully traceable. As the commissioning party (donneur d’ordre), you share regulatory responsibility for how your stand’s materials are handled.

⚠ A stand whose materials end up in a skip without traceability creates regulatory exposure that falls partly on the exhibitor — not just the stand builder.

2. Single-use plastics — already banned

Decorative single-use plastic elements — non-reusable table coverings, disposable display wraps, single-use hospitality ware — have been progressively banned since 2021. Reception areas, tasting zones, and hospitality spaces integrated into your stand are explicitly in scope. French authorities have conducted over 80 inspections of event venues since 2024, with enforcement intensifying.

3. Greenwashing prohibition — know what you can claim

AGEC, reinforced by the 2021 Climate and Resilience Act, prohibits unsubstantiated environmental claims on products and marketing materials. Terms like “biodegradable”, “eco-friendly”, or “environmentally responsible” are illegal unless backed by a verifiable methodology. If your stand carries environmental messaging, you need documentation to support it — especially when your own clients and distributors are watching.

What’s coming between now and 2027

  • Mandatory 9-stream waste sorting (2026): All professionals — without minimum size threshold — must separately sort paper/cardboard, metal, wood, plastic, glass, plasterboard, mineral waste, hazardous materials, and bio-waste. This applies on the show floor and during dismantling.
  • Extended durability index: Lighting, audio-visual, and electronic equipment displayed on your stand will progressively require a published repairability or durability score.
  • EPR reform (2025–): After a difficult initial rollout, the PMCB EPR scheme is being restructured. Enforcement and penalties are tightening year on year.

Questions to ask your stand builder before the show

  • Material traceability: Are materials sourced from declared EPR channels? Can you obtain waste tracking certificates after dismantling?
  • Modular design: Is the stand engineered to be reused across editions, or is it a one-time build destined for disposal after a few days?
  • Plastics: Which components are plastic? Are they avoidable? Reusable?
  • End of life: Who manages waste disposal after dismantling? How is it documented?
  • Environmental claims: If your stand carries sustainability messaging, is the supporting evidence available for inspection?
Affaire d’Idées

We design and build custom trade show stands for major professional exhibitions across France and Europe — from concept to dismantling, with traceable materials and modular structures built for reuse. GEPPIA member since 2009.

Frequently asked questions

Does AGEC apply to foreign companies exhibiting in France?

Yes. The law applies to all commercial activity carried out on French territory, including trade shows. As the exhibitor of record, your stand falls within the scope of national and venue-level sustainability requirements regardless of where your company is incorporated.

What is the EPR for construction materials (PMCB) and does it affect stands?

Yes. The PMCB EPR scheme covers wood panels, metal structures, partitions, glazing, and display cases — the core materials of most trade show stands. Your stand builder should confirm that materials come from declared EPR channels and that post-show waste is tracked and sorted correctly.

What happens if my stand is not AGEC-compliant?

As the commissioning party, you carry regulatory risk if your stand’s materials are not traceable. You also face legal and reputational risk if your stand displays unsubstantiated environmental claims. Some show organizers now require compliance documentation before accreditation is issued.

Will a reusable, compliant stand look different from a custom one-off build?

No. Reusable stands are custom-designed to your brand identity and floor space — the difference is in how the structure is engineered and stored between events, not in the visual result. A modular stand can be as distinctive and premium as any single-use build.

Your trade show stand, AGEC-compliant from day one

Affaire d’Idées designs and builds trade show stands that are both visually striking and built for reuse. Free 3D concept, quote within 48 h, full project management.

Request a free quote