No time to waste

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) Collaboration bringing a circular future forward

The need to live more sustainably has never been more urgent. Our linear ‘make-use-dispose’ economy is causing harm to our planet at a devastating rate, and time is critical if we’re to reverse some of the damage before it’s too late.

Today, we’re still far from a circular reality, but with stakeholder collaboration and increased investments, we can make systemic change to close the loop on plastic waste.

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) schemes offer a route forward, creating important links in funding that close the loop. Producer fees cover end-of-life costs, which are distributed to where it matters most.

Through EPR, we will see improved eco-design, higher recycling rates and access to recycled materials. It’s a key part of a circular future producers will need to embrace. So today, that means we need to be united, working together to bring that future forward.

How it works

EPR offers a way forward, placing the responsibility for the entire product lifecycle onto whoever places it onto the market – for example the brand owner or retailer.

The responsible party must ensure that their product is recycled or processed appropriately at the end of its life, typically by paying fees based on the weight and composition of the waste material to an EPR scheme.

This approach finances the collection and sorting of waste, maximising the amount that enters recycling channels. It also fosters collaboration within the value chain, helping to shape and improve waste management systems to more effectively capture the value of waste.

The benefits of EPR

When well designed and implemented, EPR schemes:

increase waste management efficiency, through improving collection and sorting practices;
lead to higher recycling rates, reducing the amount of disposed waste;
shift the financial burden of waste management, lowering costs for communities, as well as creating efficiencies that reduce overall costs;
increase the quantity of recyclates, reducing our dependency on fossil sources;
increase the quality of recyclates, resulting in circular feedstock that is suitable for a wider range of high-value applications;
incentivise eco-design, including design for reuse and recycling;
foster value chain collaboration, supporting the development of more effective systems for closing the loop;
increase consumer awareness and engagement, for example by educating consumers on correct disposal of waste.

Recelerate GbmH

EPR Collaboration in Action

Recelerate is an organisation set up by Borealis and Reclay Group to design more efficient and effective waste management systems.

Connecting downstream and upstream expertise, Recelerate will work with converters, brand owners and retailers to optimise how lightweight packaging is managed, sorted and recycled.

Recelerate’s aim is to build a continuously evolving, scalable system to capture ever-more value from plastics waste, bringing our industry closer to fully closing the loop on plastic waste.

Bringing a circular future forward

EPR schemes are already helping to bring about a circular future and their role is set to become even more key:

Packaging EPR will be mandated in the EU from 2024 onwards, and both voluntary and compulsory EPR schemes are becoming more widespread in other product areas, from electronics, to automotive, textiles, batteries and more.

These schemes offer a huge opportunity for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, and to meet their customers’ demands for circular products.

Interested in learning more about EPRs and circularity?

If you would like to get in touch with Borealis, Recelerate or Reclay Group to find out more, contact us via the link below and we’ll get back to you.

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