The LIFE4EPR project on Extended Producer Responsibility enters the scene
The LIFE4EPR project towards harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes across the EU is in full swing!
Why a project on EPR?
EPR supplements the “polluter pays” principle by holding manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products and packaging.
While EPR is mandated in EU laws like the Waste Framework Directive, its implementation varies across Member States. Currently, a comprehensive overview of EPR schemes at the national level is lacking, creating a gap for policy-makers and other stakeholders (from producers and recyclers to consumers) involved in EPR.
LIFE4EPR enters the scene
Funded by the European Commission, LIFE4EPR started in May 2025 and will last 2 years.
The project consortium includes:
- Fundació ENT (project coordinator);
- The Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management (ACR+);
- Erion Compliance Organization (ECO);
- Zero Waste Europe (ZWE);
- WEEE Forum;
- SOTELO;
- Free University of Brussels (VUB).
The project is designed in response to three main findings regarding EPR schemes in the EU:
- The absence of an EU-wide overview of EPR schemes at the Member State level;
- The lack of harmonisation among existing producers/products’ registers.
- The lack of knowledge on the environmental effectiveness of EPR programmes.
Life4EPR will enhance the effectiveness, governance, and cost efficiency of EPR schemes by studying current practices, developing a technical tool, and delivering policy recommendations. The project will map EPR schemes, benchmark case studies, and test a harmonized EU-wide register through stakeholder engagement.
Zero Waste Europe’s role
ZWE is leading LIFE4EPR’s Work Package 4 on networking and co-creation, stakeholder consultation, and policy recommendations.
If you would like to learn more about LIFE4EPR and ZWE’s contribution to the project, please email Theresa Morsen at [email protected].
