EPR in Sweden: The amendments to 2024 at a glance
With the new amendments to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulation, Sweden is clearly demonstrating how producer responsibility can be comprehensively implemented. The Swedish government has decided to make fundamental changes to the EPR regulation for packaging, which have been fully effective since 2024. The changes to the law affect a wide range of stakeholders. Why all this? Sweden is pursuing a major goal: recycling is to be made easier and more efficient in order to save raw materials and reduce CO2 emissions.
The amendments not only place obligations on distributors of packaging, but also redistribute roles and responsibilities and affect municipalities, producers, producer responsibility organisations (PROs) and deposit systems. We look at the changes in detail:
This is what the changes mean for producers and producer responsibility organisations
All manufacturers of packaging are obliged to join or establish a recognised Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO). The activities of these organisations must be approved by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.Producers must also register with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and participate in a take-back system.
What the changes mean for municipalities and local authorities
Since 1 January 2024, municipalities and local authorities have assumed operational responsibility for the collection of packaging waste from households and selected businesses. They play a key role in providing information on preventive measures and the correct sorting of packaging waste. By 1 January 2027 at the latest, all municipalities must introduce a door-to-door collection system for packaging waste. Collection will be based on material types such as paper, plastic, metal and glass. In addition, bulky packaging waste and materials such as wood, ceramics and textiles must be collected at accessible collection points or municipal recycling centres.
This is what the changes mean for deposit systems
The updated regulation also includes provisions for deposit systems as applied to bottles and cans. Responsibility for these systems has been transferred from the Swedish Board of Agriculture to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency from 1 January 2023. Existing systems can retain their approval until 1 January 2027, after which they will be reassessed in accordance with the new guidelines.
EPR in Sweden: Far-reaching commitment
These extensive changes emphasise Sweden’s commitment to environmental protection and recycling. For companies that sell products to end customers in Sweden, it is crucial to be aware of the new responsibilities and act accordingly.
The EPR Sweden 2024 regulation represents not only a change, but also a significant step in terms of packaging responsibility that will contribute significantly to reducing the environmental impact.
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Compliance in Ireland: How to fulfil your EPR obligations
Ireland uses the extended producer responsibility (EPR) model to manage various waste streams and has introduced six EPR programmes. This means that manufacturers bear the costs for the collection and environmentally sound disposal of their products. There are specific targets for each of the six programmes. Companies operating in Ireland or planning to expand into the Irish market are obliged to fulfil the legal requirements and thus contribute to sustainable waste management in Ireland.
Labelling requirements and co. in Romania: Your EPR obligations at a glance
Are you shipping goods to Romania? Then you should definitely familiarise yourself with the local regulations regarding your packaging. As in other EU countries, various obligations apply to you as a distributor in Romania in terms of extended producer responsibility (EPR). The EPR stipulates that manufacturers, importers and companies are responsible for the entire life cycle of their products. This also includes the disposal and recycling of packaging. In this blog post, we explain which obligations apply in Romania and how your packaging must be labelled there.
Consolidation of EPR flows for packaging and graphic paper in France
One of the biggest challenges we currently face is the effective management and reduction of waste. The constantly growing population and increasing consumption lead to ever greater quantities of waste, which pollutes our environment. In addition, our natural resources are dwindling. To counteract this problem, the EU Waste Framework Directive has been in place since 2008, which was amended in 2018 and represents a decisive step towards a sustainable circular economy in the EU. This directive sets clear targets and measures to prevent, reduce and optimise the recycling of waste. But what exactly is behind this directive and how is it implemented? In the following article, we take a look at the background and objectives of the EU Waste Framework Directive and highlight the key aspects and challenges involved in its implementation.