The packaging industry in France has been actively engaging with elected officials through various events and meetings, aiming to influence policy decisions related to waste management and environmental regulations. These interactions include breakfasts near the National Assembly, lunches at the Senate, and cocktail events at the Roland-Garros stadium, all strategically chosen to foster connections with key decision-makers. Aromates, a consulting firm, organized a breakfast event on July 8, which was attended by over 200 decision-makers, including local elected officials, at the Maison de la chimie in Paris. This event was supported by major waste management companies such as Veolia, Suez, and Paprec. The cost of organizing this event was approximately 74,000 euros, with half of the funding coming from public sources and the other half from the waste management industry. Aromates declined to provide detailed information on the funding breakdown by company. Jacques Fernique, a former ecologist senator, was honored to preside over the 2026 edition of the conference, despite having submitted an amendment to increase the plastic tax in 2025. Marine Bonavita, advocacy manager of Zero Waste France, noted that the use of parliamentarians who support environmental protection serves as a guarantee for the packaging lobby, enhancing its influence. However, Fernique stated that he did not feel used, as he ensured that key issues such as the polluter-payer principle were addressed. Veolia acknowledged the importance of continuous dialogue with local elected officials to share technical expertise, although critics argue that this dialogue benefits the waste management companies more than it does the public interest. According to Zero Waste France, the packaging industry's lobbying budget for 2025 is estimated at 2.5 million euros, although the actual amount may be higher due to the use of third-party intermediaries. The Maison des eaux minérales naturelles, representing bottled water producers such as Evian and Volvic, also engages with parliamentarians through events such as a work lunch at the Senate on September 25, 2025. This event was attended by several senators, including Hervé Gillé and Antoinette Guhl, who justified the meeting as part of standard exchanges. Laurent Burgoa, a senator from Gard, initiated the lunch, emphasizing that each senator would personally cover the cost to avoid any ethical concerns. Polyvia, the plastic producers' association, organized a round table on recycling at the Roland-Garros stadium on August 27, 2025, with a lobbying budget of 545,000 euros for the year. Anne-Cécile Violland, an MP from Haute-Savoie, participated in the round table, acknowledging the association's white paper on plastic. However, Bérenger Cernon, an MP from Essonne, criticized the industry's efforts as a classic threat to employment, suggesting that reducing waste could lead to job losses in the waste management sector. Sandrine Le Feur, MP for Ensemble pour la République (EPR), highlighted that local elected officials have invested heavily in waste recycling plants, benefiting from their operation rather than reducing the production of single-use packaging. Jean-François Husson, a senator from Les Républicains, submitted an amendment against the plastic tax in 2025, citing concerns about the financial implications of reducing waste volumes on existing waste treatment plants. Zero Waste France's methodology involved estimating the lobbying budget for the packaging sector by analyzing the declared budgets of 34 actors and applying the percentage of activities related to packaging. For companies where specific figures were not available, estimates were made based on the proportion of activities related to packaging. The NGO's calculations indicate that the packaging industry spent approximately 2.5 million euros on lobbying efforts in 2025.