Episode 32: A circular economy for packaging: Extended Producer Responsibility

Streamed on 15th June 2021

To stop packaging pollution we need a circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. where we eliminate what we don't need, innovate towards new packaging, products and business models, and circulate all the packaging we do use. To circulate packaging, we need dedicated, ongoing, and sufficient funding for collection, sorting, and recycling – otherwise the economics simply do not stack up – it costs more to do, than the money it makes.

The only proven way to provide the necessary funding is through schemes where the companies putting packaging on the market are required to pay for its collection, sorting, and recycling — such schemes are called extended producer responsibility (EPR).

EPR can be more than a financing tool for recycling. It’s an opportunity to improve transparency, incentivise better packaging design and reduce carbon emissions.