Since January 1, plastic trays are supposed to have disappeared from service providers who deliver meals to the homes of the elderly.
Except that in Eure-et-Loir, like everywhere else in France, there is a gap between theory and practice.
All the companies concerned by this law that we have contacted claim not to be able to comply with the legislation. Emmanuel Troissin, director of ADMR (Help at home in rural areas) in the department is aware of being outside the law.
“I don’t feel at fault for not respecting the law, because the container manufacturers do not have the materials, the technology that would allow us to do so. »
Emmanuel Troissin, director of the ADMR of Eure-et-Loir
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François Charlemagne, general manager of Chartres Métropole restauration qualifies the law as “heresy”. The manager of the central kitchen admits it without complex: the containers in which the meals are enclosed are not made of glass, but of 100% recyclable plastic. “The law was thought out without global reflection”, denounces the cook.
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The ADMR, Chartres Métropole restauration and Les menus services, a company similar to the other two, denounce the methods of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the government.
“There was no consultation with the ministry or support to prepare for this change. Usually, a frequently asked questions section is posted on the ministry’s website to answer questions from professionals, there, nothing, “says Maëlle Reynaud, quality project manager at ADMR.
A controversial law
The law was passed in February 2020, shortly before Covid and containment. “The timing could not have been worse, sighs Florence Doublier, head of the home delivery service at ADMR 28, we had other things to think about at that time. »
Questioned by professionals in the sector, the Ministry of Ecological Transition did not wish to answer our questions. If the law angers the professionals of home meal delivery, it is also because it poses a certain number of practical concerns.The tightness of the trays is a crucial issue.
The first is that according to the definition given by the ministerial services, only washable and reusable containers, that is to say dishes, must be used to transport meals to the elderly. “Only glass or stainless steel boxes meet these criteria,” according to Augustin Poul, manager of the Chartres service menu agency.
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“However, stainless steel does not tolerate microwaves well and our customers are 85 years old on average and are fond of this utensil. So all that’s left is the glass,” emphasizes the service menu manager.
glass or nothing
At the ADMR as in Chartres Métropole Restoration, officials point out the disadvantages of the material, which is brittle and heavier than plastic.
“It’s bulkier and the weight is higher, we would have to change our utility vehicles for trucks that would consume more fuel. The beneficiaries risk breaking the containers,” warns Florence Doublier.
To recover glass containers, Augustin Poul highlights another problem: “We are not allowed to mix clean and dirty containers. It would either be necessary to organize two rounds, one to deliver, another to collect dirty containers or buy new trucks equipped with two separate compartments. »
Rare are the workers who do not transport their midday meal in these famous glass boxes to eat at work, containers which sometimes leak liquid, sauce, which specialized companies cannot afford.
“To ensure that our containers are properly closed, they are heat-sealed with a plastic film. With glass boxes, you would have to settle for clip-on lids, which are not 100% safe. »
The risk of leakage is embarrassing, but the shelf life of food could be altered according to Augustin Poul. “The use-by date would be one or two days shorter than today. »
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Augustin Poul and his colleagues have carried out tests to comply with the law without success. “Cardboard does not provide sufficient watertightness, neither do bamboo fibers”, regrets François Charlemagne who has carried out numerous searches on the Internet.
We will have no choice but to increase our prices by 10 to 20%
Augustin Poul, manager of the Chartres branch of menu services
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If the material is a stumbling block, the price is another big obstacle. Maëlle Reynaud of ADMR has made her calculations, replacing plastic trays with glass or stainless steel would cause an additional cost for customers of one to three euros per meal, an increase of between 5 and 25%. Augustin Poul, of menu services, estimates the increase in production costs by 20 to 30%. “Our margin is very low, we will have no choice but to increase our prices by 10 to 20% or the State will have to support us financially”.
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The players in the home delivery sector only hope for one thing, that the ministry reviews its copy. “Our hope is an evolution or an adaptation of the rules because currently, we are blocked”, underlines Emmanuel Troissin of ADMR 28.
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