The Triman Logo: French Labeling Requirements for Non-EU Brands

The Triman logo is the small French recycling marker that, since the AGEC law of 2020 fully applied in 2022, must appear on virtually every consumer product packaging and many products themselves sold into France. For non-EU brands designing packaging at scale for global markets, fitting Triman onto the French SKU variant is a real operational task.

This article explains what Triman is, where to place it, and how to combine it with the Info-tri sorting instructions.

What Triman is

Triman is the French national recycling label introduced by Article 199 of the Loi de transition énergétique (2015) and made mandatory by the AGEC law of 2020. It signals to French consumers that the product or packaging is subject to a French recycling sorting instruction.

The official Triman pictogram is a stylised silhouette of a person between two recycling arrows. It is a single symbol, with strict formatting:

• Black on light background, or white on dark background.
• Minimum size: typically 6mm × 6mm (the exact minimum varies slightly by product family).
• Proportions: locked. Cannot be stretched, recolored or stylised.

The official files are provided by ADEME and by eco-organisms (Citeo, Refashion, etc.) for use by registered producers.

Where Triman is required

The scope is broad and applies to most consumer products and packaging:

• Packaging (Citeo): boxes, bottles, jars, bags, void fill, branded inserts. Triman on the packaging surface or on a sticker if direct print is not feasible.
• Textile / TLC (Refashion): on the product care label.
• Furniture / DEA (Ecomaison): on the product or on its accompanying documentation.
• WEEE (Ecosystem / Ecologic): on the product packaging or accompanying instructions.
• Toys (Ecomaison): on the packaging.
• Sports / DIY (Ecomaison): on the packaging.

For a non-EU producer with mixed catalog, plan Triman across all packaging and on the relevant product surfaces. The label addition is typically integrated at the next packaging print run; retrofitting in-stock packaging is impractical and not required for inventory shipped before the labelling effective date.

Triman + Info-tri

Triman alone is necessary but not sufficient. The label is paired with Info-tri — material-specific sorting instructions that tell consumers where to dispose of each component. Info-tri is a separate small block of text and icons that accompanies Triman.

A typical compliant packaging has:

• Triman pictogram.
• Info-tri block per material (one for the cardboard box, one for the plastic film, one for the paper insert).
• The block reads "À recycler / Bac jaune / Bac jaune / À déposer en magasin" (etc.) depending on the material and the disposal channel.

The Info-tri block is generated based on your declared packaging composition. Your representative typically supplies the Info-tri specifications for each SKU. See /blog/info-tri-explained-france-packaging-labels.

Cost and lead time

Adding Triman and Info-tri is essentially a print artwork change at the next packaging production cycle. For a non-EU brand producing French-SKU packaging in China or in their domestic country:

• Design update: a few hours of design time per SKU family.
• Print proof and validation: a week or two.
• Stock turnover: depends on inventory cycle.

Realistic timeline from decision to compliant packaging in market: 2-4 months for a typical Asian-manufactured packaging refresh cycle.

Eco-modulation interaction

Correctly displayed Triman + Info-tri earn a small bonus on the Citeo eco-contribution (typically 1-3% reduction). Conversely, missing labelling triggers a malus (typically 5-10% increase). For a producer paying €3,000/year in eco-contribution, that is €150-€300 swing. Small but real.

Common non-EU producer mistakes

Drawing a "similar" recycling icon instead of Triman. Custom icons do not satisfy the requirement. Use the official Triman file.

Triman without Info-tri. Triman alone is incomplete. The legal requirement is the pair.

Same packaging for US/EU/UK SKUs. A box designed for the US market won’t have Triman. The French SKU variant needs the label even if the rest of the world doesn’t. Plan a French-specific artwork version.

Triman placed where it can’t be seen. Inside-the-box placement does not satisfy. The label must be visible on the outer packaging surface.

FAQ

Is the Triman logo required on every product or just on packaging?

Triman is required on packaging that ships to French consumers, on the printed material that accompanies the product (instruction manual, etc.), and on the product itself when the product falls under specific EPR streams (textile, furniture, sports/DIY). Exact placement varies by product category, but the most universally applicable case — packaging — covers any consumer goods shipped to France.

Can I print Triman in any color or does it need to be a specific format?

The Triman logo has an official color specification (black on light background or white on dark background) and proportions. Stylistic redrawing is not allowed. Use the official files from the AGEC implementing decree or from your representative — Triman in unofficial colors or distorted ratios does not satisfy the legal requirement.

What is the penalty for not displaying Triman?

Direct fines under AGEC art. 17 can reach €15,000 per product family. Indirect cost: a labelling malus on the eco-contribution per Citeo rules — typically 5-10% per missing element. The most common pattern is that missing Triman survives marketplace verification (marketplaces check IDU, not labels) but gets caught either at ADEME audit or at French customs review.

We supply Triman + Info-tri specs for your SKUs

We provide the official Triman pictogram files and generate per-SKU Info-tri blocks based on your declared composition. Included in the flat €249/month per stream — /pricing. Send your packaging mix to /contact for a written quote and the labelling pack.