What is EPR? Everything about Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging

More and more companies are dealing with EPR, but what exactly does it involve? And more importantly: what do you as a company need to do to meet the obligations? In this article, we explain it.

What is EPR?

EPR stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. The principle is simple: if you place packaging on the market, you are responsible for what happens to it after use. Financially too.

EPR is not a new concept, but European regulation is becoming stricter and enforcement more rigorous. With the arrival of the PPWR, the EPR obligations for packaging are being further tightened and expanded.

Who does EPR apply to?

EPR applies to every company that places packaging on the market in the EU. That means not only large producers, but also importers, retailers and webshops that sell packaged products. Whether you operate in food, retail, e-commerce, pharma or logistics: if you use packaging, you fall under EPR.

What are the obligations?

EPR obligations differ per country, but there are a number of common elements. You must register with a recognized producer organization in every country where you place packaging on the market. You must report annually on the amount of packaging you place on the market, broken down by material type and weight. Based on that report, you pay a financial contribution towards the costs of collecting, sorting and processing packaging waste. The more packaging you place on the market, the higher your contribution.

What do you need to provide for EPR compliance?

For EPR compliance you need a complete overview of all the packaging you place on the market. That means a registration per material type (plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, metal) and the weight per category. In addition, you need a registration with the right producer organization and you must report annually on your packaging volumes.

At RE-PACKED, we help you draw up the right documentation, register with producer organizations and complete the annual reporting. That way you know for sure that you meet your obligations without spending hours on it yourself.

What are the risks if you do nothing?

Companies that do not meet their EPR obligations risk fines from national regulators, problems with import and export within the EU and reputational damage with customers and partners. In some countries, non-compliance can also lead to market exclusion.

EPR by country: what should you watch out for?

EPR regulation differs per EU country. The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France each have specific rules and producer organizations. If you operate in multiple EU countries, you need to be compliant in each country separately. That makes EPR compliance complex, especially for companies operating internationally.

At RE-PACKED, we have experience with EPR compliance in multiple EU countries and help you navigate the various national regulations.

How does RE-PACKED help with EPR?

At RE-PACKED, we arrange full EPR compliance for you. From drawing up a packaging registration to the annual reporting and the financial contribution to producer organizations. That way you don't have to worry about the regulations and can focus on your own business.

Companies that get their EPR obligations properly organized now avoid costly fines and supply chain disruptions later.