Extended Producer Responsibility was developed in response to high levels of waste and pressures on public authorities. After 30 years, we reevaluate the effectiveness of this policy approach to contribute comprehensively to circular economy.

We propose several pathways:

Pathway 1 – Optimizing EPR as an instrument for post-user circularity:

Collection and recycling goals must be balanced with promoting product lifetime extension (repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, material recycling). The companies engaged in these actions must be formally integrated within EPR in an additional ‘circular value chain management organization’.

Pathway 2 – Re-designing EPR as an instrument for circular economy transformations

Pathway 2 builds on Pathway 1, and it focuses on targets and financial mechanisms for sustainable and circular product design.