Image by vedat zorluer from Pixabay
Monaco is taking another step towards its goal of eliminating single-use plastic waste by 2030. From 1 September 2026, restaurants, takeaway businesses and other food outlets across the Principality will face new restrictions on disposable plastic packaging used for ready-to-eat food.
The measure, introduced under Ministerial Decree no. 2026-129, targets plastic boxes, trays and salad bowls used for food intended for immediate consumption or carrying a use-by date of no more than three days. The rules apply whether customers eat their meals on the premises or take them away.
The ban covers prepared food that does not require cooking or boiling before consumption, bringing a wide range of takeaway and ready-to-eat products within its scope.
What Will Be Exempt?
Not every form of plastic packaging will be prohibited. Lids and closure systems are excluded from the restriction, while containers for fresh, cut and unprocessed fruit may still be permitted where packaging is considered necessary to preserve freshness, ensure food safety or avoid waste.
The decree also allows certain containers featuring a polyethylene, polylactic acid or equivalent coating, giving businesses some flexibility when selecting compliant packaging.
Affected establishments will need to turn to alternatives such as reusable containers, cardboard and moulded fibre packaging.
Customers Can Bring Their Own Containers
For customers, one practical option remains available: bringing a reusable container from home. Monaco has allowed customers to request that food be placed in their own reusable containers since 2021.
Businesses can refuse a container if it is visibly dirty or unsuitable for the food being purchased.
The new rules build on a series of measures introduced over the past decade. Monaco banned single-use plastic shopping bags in 2016, followed by plastic straws and stirrers in 2019. Disposable plastic plates, cups, glasses and cutlery were restricted from 2020, while reusable tableware and containers have been required for food and drinks consumed on restaurant premises since 2023.
The 1 September ban marks another significant stage in Monaco’s environmental policy, extending the fight against disposable plastic into one of the most visible parts of everyday life: takeaway food.