Nowadays, products and packaging are designed to be "disposable." It often leads to less sensitivity to its influence or impact on the health of human beings. If consumers rethink the way they consume and push back the responsibility of the product to the manufacturers, the issue of containing waste rather than generating it can get addressed. 

To achieve this objective, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy that emphasizes the product lifecycle and allows manufacturers to keep the resources from the product stewardship in the loop.  

How does the extended producer responsibility work?

The Extended Producer Responsibility is a process strategy that identifies and summarizes the environmental costs associated with a consumer product and packaging lifecycle.cmrt template 2019

This concept has been developed globally and commonly takes the shape of financial measures holding manufacturers liable for waste disposal management. 

It translates to manufacturers taking the following actions at the end of the product lifecycle:

• Implementing recycling and taking back programs for products
• Setting up recycling pickups and collection points for products
• Designing new products that are easier to repair, reuse and recycle.

EPR attempts to shift the burden of waste management from the consumers to the manufacturers. It highlights the idea that producers are in an advanced position to design and manufacture less toxic, harmful, and wasteful products before they become “wastes”.

All packaging and products are good candidates for EPR programs and can be implemented differently. It includes manufacturers who have put into practice programs made by themselves or rely on the other infrastructures that recycle with the manufacturers' financial aid. 

However, the challenge to EPR is still present. The approach of overreaching is to reduce waste at the end of the product lifecycle, whereas the goal should be to reduce waste at the source. Too often, EPR focuses on end-of-life waste management rather than designing waste thrown out of the loop at the source. 

Extended Producer Responsibility Support 

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), surrounded by global regulations, calls out the Importers and Manufacturers to review and manage the effects of the products on the environment at the end of life or disposal responsibly.  

Various regulations, mainly from the European Union, govern the requirements, such as Packaging Waste Directive and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) packaging, Batteries Directives, etc. 

Service providers offer effective Turnkey solutions to anyone who wants to comply with EPR regulations. The industries engaging such services are Electronics, Automotive, Industrial, Packaging, and Lubricants. The EPR services are offered by industry-specific domain experts who enable manufacturers to comply with the per EPR. 

The EPR experts provide the initial strategy development and suppliers' material declaration collection by compliance analysts either as an EPR-specific regulation declaration or a complete material declaration.   

An EPR support service typically consists of  

• Assessment of compliance reporting requirements
• Collecting Supplier Material Declarations
• Comprehensive compliance Management Solution
• Data Maintenance and updates
• Consulting and Advisory services
• Internal and supplier Training 
• Reporting and Analytics

Conclusion 

The EPR is still in its infancy stage, with the development of technologies and products to be implemented. The success of EPR depends on its ability to empower lawmakers with tools that help reduce the impact of waste on the environment.

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