Arash Derambarsh warns: the complaint that it filed Tuesday, February 5, against the enterprise of hypermarkets E. Leclerc may be the first complaint in a long series. The object of the dispute? The non-compliance, according to the lawyer, of the law against food waste, passed in the Assembly three years ago, on February 3, 2016.
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Accompanied by his brother Thierry Vallat, a bailiff, and several journalists, the lawyer noted Monday, February 4, that of the food consumed was thrown away by the supermarket E. Leclerc in Mimizan-Plage. In total, 50 kilograms of food have been found, sprayed with a disinfectant. Vegetables, yoghurt, meat, croissants, and chocolatines. According to the elected, “the expiration dates were 4 February”.
“, An error of logistics”
The law in question stipulates that no supermarkets with a surface area of over 400 square metres should only take a single food, at the risk of incurring a fine of 3750 euros. Instead, the unsold goods must be collected by humanitarian associations.
The centre E. Leclerc de Mimizan-Plage, an area of 1000 square meters, has therefore broken the law. But for the direction of the supermarket, it is a simple error of logistics “as the management is strongly committed not to reproduce”.
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common cases
Yet, Arash Derambarsh says: this is not an isolated case. “All the world does not respect the law, he laments, and, if I do not act now, it is because I wanted to leave it to major distribution channels time to adjust. But at the end of three years, I believe that those who do not always respect the law, must pay”. According to him, he would have received thirty complaints accusing the centre E. Leclerc, in particular.
22% of other donations to associations
The law against food waste has been passed in a larger goal to halve waste by 2025. In fact, every year, 10 million tonnes of food are thrown away in France, a theoretical value estimated at 16 billion euros.
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And the lawyer finds himself: even if some do not comply with the rules, there has been a marked improvement. More than two years after its entry into force, the French branch of the world food Programme of the united Nations has stated that this law was allowed to increase to 22% donations to associations of food aid.
Regarding the waste itself, according to Pierre Galio, head of the department for consumption and prevention of the environment Agency and energy management (Ademe), it is still too early to quantify its effectiveness.
In addition, only 14% of food waste comes from supermarkets. The rest is done at the time of the production, processing, and especially consumption of the product. The reduction of food waste could soon be extended to other actors in the food chain.
A strategic target
“If the mass distribution is referred to as a priority, it is for two reasons,” explains Pierre Galio. First of all, “the practices are quite easy to implement insofar as the fight against waste is favorable for the channels of mass distribution”. Donation to associations can défiscaliser at the height of the price purchased, which represents a real economic interest. In addition, this control allows the big chains to save on the costs of waste management, to the extent that these are the associations that are in charge of the logistics. Finally, some channels are more respectful than others in terms of the waste, such as Intermarché, according to Arash Derembarsh, were able to benefit from a better image vis-à-vis consumers.
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most Importantly, Arash Derembarsh underlines the strategic weight of the large-scale distribution. “It is the distribution that fixed the prices with the producers, and who decides the quality and quantity of the products. By this point, it influences the whole food chain, it is for this reason that I have made it my battle horse”.
Pierre Galio confirms it: all the links of the chain are interconnected permanently. “The large-scale distribution gives the standard by requiring a specification specific to the agri-food industries and the agricultural world. Avoid food waste, for example, can bring a store to reduce the suréférencement products. Product diversification also leads to a waste in their manufacture, but also can lead to excess and thus to the increase of returns. It is an entire system that is in question”.
Peter, However, Galio calls for vigilance: “we must be careful to ensure that the associations do not retrieve products which are not consumable, and therefore the waste that they must manage in the place of the large-scale distribution. Maintain a standard of quality should be the main priority if the fight against waste is to be effective”.
