Month: December 2025

Monaco’s pioneering reusable container scheme for restaurants and takeaway services will cease operations at the end of December, as the Princely Government prepares to develop a more effective version of the environmental initiative.

Launched in 2022, the MaConsigne scheme was created to reduce reliance on single-use plastic packaging in the catering and takeaway sector by promoting a system of reusable containers. The programme allowed customers to borrow containers from participating restaurants and return them after use, creating a circular economy model for food packaging.

After more than three years of experimentation, the Princely Government says it has drawn positive conclusions regarding the scheme’s environmental and educational impact. However, officials have identified the need to evolve both the economic and operational model to ensure it fully meets expectations and achieves its waste reduction goals, according to a government statement.

Government thanks participants and pledges renewed approach

In announcing the closure, the government expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the experiment since 2022, including restaurateurs, partner entities and companies, users and technical teams. Officials described their engagement and participation as essential to understanding how such schemes can function in the Principality.

Drawing on the experience gained from the initial programme, the government says it now aims to evolve the concept whilst maintaining its ambition to reduce waste and promote the circular economy. Officials have characterised the closure of the current system as a strategic pause rather than an abandonment of the underlying environmental objectives.

Mission for Energy Transition to lead review process

According to the government, a phase of reflection and evaluation will be conducted under the aegis of the Mission for Energy Transition, which will examine different approaches in consultation with all stakeholders. This collaborative review process aims to identify improvements that can make a future iteration of the scheme more viable and effective.

The assessment will likely focus on operational challenges that emerged during the trial period, including container return rates, hygiene protocols, logistics costs and user engagement. These insights will inform the design of whatever system eventually replaces MaConsigne.

Commitment to waste reduction remains unchanged

Despite the closure of the current scheme, officials have emphasised that the government’s objective remains firmly fixed on proposing concrete, innovative and sustainable alternatives for reducing waste at source. The pause in operations represents an opportunity to build on lessons learned and create a more robust system that can achieve meaningful environmental impact whilst remaining economically sustainable.

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The Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM) recently hosted its Comité de Perfectionnement – a scientific advisory board composed of distinguished researchers from leading French and European institutions – for a comprehensive review of its strategic direction and scientific output. Held from 26th to 28th November 2025, the session marked a pivotal moment for the institution as it enters a new phase of leadership and interdisciplinary expansion.

This year’s committee coincided with significant changes in governance at the CSM, including the appointment of a new Chair of the Board, a new Scientific Director, and a new Secretary General. The committee, presided over by Professor Dominique Doumenc of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, assessed the work carried out across the marine biology, polar biology, medical research, and molecular biology departments.

Multi-disciplinary science aligned with Monaco’s environmental mission

The committee acknowledged numerous advancements achieved by CSM’s teams over the past four years, highlighting progress in emerging scientific fields, the expansion of international research collaborations, and the Centre’s commitment to science communication and training. Special attention was paid to the growing integration of cross-disciplinary methods that link biodiversity with human health.

“This was an intense and inspiring moment for us to present our achievements and future scientific vision to such a high-level panel of experts,” said Dr. Sylvie Tambutté, the CSM’s new Scientific Director. “In a time of increasing environmental pressures, research into life systems is more essential than ever. Being able to rely on the committee’s independent, forward-looking insights is a major strength for our work.”

The committee praised the CSM’s proactive approach in strengthening synergies across departments and its responsiveness to global scientific priorities. Their final recommendations, expected in the coming weeks, will help shape the next stage of the CSM’s mission.

Supporting Monaco’s role in global science

Following the review, Professor Doumenc noted that the CSM remains “a major tool for the Principality to respond to the effects of global physical changes on ecosystems and living beings – from the molecular scale to human health.”

The 2025 committee brought together a wide range of experts from institutions such as INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Côte d’Azur, and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, as well as representatives from Monaco’s own Department of Social Affairs and Health.

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Photo source: CSM