Discussion on 'The role of extended producer responsibility in strengthening the circular economy'

Speakers:
Pierre Gaudillat, Scientific Officer for Circular Economy & Sustainable Industry, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Sofie Schop, Executive Director, EU, WRAP
Arnas Liauksminas, Environment Attaché, Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the European Union
Lars Mortensen, Circular Economy, Consumption & Production Expert, European Environment Agency
Francesca Stevens, Secretary General, EUROPEN

Chair: Elisabetta Cornago, Assistant Director, Centre for European Reform

The EU Circular Economy Act is expected to strengthen circular production modes, including through measures that create market demand for recycled materials. Some materials and goods – such as plastics and electronic waste – have long been at the core of circularity efforts, and their recovery and recycling have improved in Europe. Other sectors, such as textiles, are gradually shifting from linear models and towards circular production.

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes are key to ensure producers take responsibility for their products, including at the end of their life cycle, and pay for managing the environmental impacts throughout the value chain. The latest revision of the EU waste framework directive requires mandatory EPR schemes for textiles, textile-related and footwear products in all EU member-states. This should strengthen incentives for circularity in the textile sector, but EPR schemes vary greatly across EU countries. How can they best be set up to achieve the stated objectives? Which lessons can be drawn from other sectors that are further down their circularity journey? The panel explored the implications of these policy initiatives, considering the incentives and constraints they create for businesses and consumers.

This event was kindly supported by Shein.