EFIC has joined a broad cross-industry coalition calling for the upcoming Circular Economy Act to support a well-functioning EU market for secondary raw materials and make Extended Producer Responsibility schemes more harmonised, transparent and effective across Member States.
Currently, differences between national systems create administrative complexity, hinder cross-border compliance and limit EPR’s contribution to circularity and competitiveness.
The coalition calls on the European Commission to:
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establish a horizontal and directly applicable EU framework for EU-mandated EPR schemes, complemented by sector-specific requirements;
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keep EPR systems producer-led, aligning responsibility, financing and decision-making;
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improve transparency throughout the waste-management chain, including on fees, performance and the use of producer contributions;
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ensure that EPR funds are ring-fenced for the product categories and waste streams for which they are collected;
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simplify registration and reporting obligations, particularly for SMEs and companies operating across several Member States; and
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strengthen separate collection and recycling infrastructure to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality secondary raw materials.
A harmonised and enforceable EU framework would help transform EPR from a patchwork of national administrative obligations into an effective instrument supporting circularity, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.