Since Law 77-15 came into effect in July 2016, Morocco has banned the manufacturing, import, sale, and use of plastic bags—the 'Zero Mika' campaign. Nine years later, regulatory pressure has only intensified: controls have been tightened, and hundreds of tonnes of illegal bags are seized each year. For a brand, the question is no longer 'should we change?' but 'how can we turn this change into an asset?'.
What the law prohibits—and what it opens up
The law targets plastic carrier and packaging bags. It opens up a clear path for fibre-based materials: kraft paper, corrugated cardboard, and paperboard. Where thin plastic was disposable and had no perceived value, custom cardboard becomes a communication tool: your logo, your colours, a QR code, a message. The constraint becomes a branding surface.
Cardboard alternatives, case by case
- Kraft paper bag (with or without twisted handles): retail, bakeries, fashion. Paper weight 90–120 g/m² depending on the load.
- Folding carton: a direct substitute for blister packs and plastic sachets for small products.
- Takeaway box (food): restaurants, catering, patisserie—cardboard with a food-grade barrier.
- Rigid cardboard carrier bag: corporate events and gifts, reusable and high-value.
Eco-design: don't just replace, design better
Replacing plastic with poorly designed cardboard (excessive paper weight, over-printed, plastic lamination) negates the environmental benefit. The best practices are: favour recycled or certified fibre, limit plastic lamination in favour of varnishes, size the packaging correctly to reduce the void, and design a die-cut that can be assembled without glue where possible.
Proactive measures pay off twice
Brands that switched to cardboard early have both secured their compliance and enhanced their image with an urban clientele that is increasingly sensitive to the issue. At Printivo, we design replacement cardboard packaging—from structure to finish—and produce it in Casablanca, with proofs available in 24-48 hours. Let's discuss your range.
