From Guangzhou to Naples: French plastic waste exports.

Summary In this note we study the adaptation of French plastic waste exporters to a sudden drop in global demand for these products. For this we use the experience provided by China's decision to ban plastic waste imports in 2017. After the ban, there is a sharp increase in exports to other Asian countries, but this shift appears to be short-lived, unlike the shift to the EU. Furthermore, the changing structure of French exports suggests a form of polarization of plastic waste flows between destinations. In view of these results, we examine the possible impact of new regulations put in place by the EU, which aim to considerably reduce European exports of plastic waste.