​We are all consumers of packaging. Increasingly, consumers reaching for their favourite product on the supermarket shelf may be swayed by promising on-pack claims regarding packaging recyclability or recycled content inclusion. Done well, environmental claims indicate to the eco-conscious consumer that a certain product or its packaging may have preferen...

​The world is at a tipping point in tackling plastic waste, and countries are increasingly turning to sustainable solutions. While mechanical recycling has been the dominant method, it struggles with complex or contaminated plastics that often end up in landfills or incinerators. Chemical recycling, a technology that breaks plastics into their core compon...

​A study in Science Advances has revealed a direct correlation between plastic production by consumer goods companies and environmental plastic pollution, indicating that a 1% increase in production results in a 1% increase in pollution. Southeast Asia dominates the list of the highest plastic polluters, with six out of the top ten countries located in th...

​Latvia has amended its Natural Resource Tax by establishing a tax on plastics that are typically not recycled in Latvia. Starting from 1st October 2024, any taxable person responsible for packaging made entirely or partially of non-recyclable plastic (polymeric) materials will be subject to this tax. The tax was introduced in response to the European Uni...

​The How2Recycle (H2R) label, launched in 2012, is a voluntary labelling program designed to make recycling guidance simple and consistent across brands, helping consumers make informed choices. As recycling regulations and consumer expectations evolve, H2R recently introduced two new label types—How2Recycle Pro and How2Recycle Plus—to offer even clearer,...

​The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (SB 707) is California's latest effort to tackle the increasing problem of textile waste. The act establishes a framework to manage the lifecycle of textiles, encouraging recycling, repair, and reuse to prevent millions of tons of post-consumer textile waste from ending up in landfills. With fast fashion contr...

The rise of packaging waste has become a significant environmental issue in Taiwan, with single use plastics and glass containers contributing heavily to landfills and pollution. In response, the Ministry of Environment has proposed the introduction of a 'Green Design Fee' for producers of plastic and glass packaging. The green fee system is an initiative...

​Bundled in with the latest changes from the EU's Green Deal, the EU's landmark Regulation on Deforestation Free Products (EUDR) will revolutionise supply chain traceability when it comes to products derived from key commodities such as wood. The EUDR mandates that certain products may only be placed on the EU market or exported if they are deforestation-...

​The EU is in the process of significantly altering its packaging legislation, thanks to recently published laws including Directive 2024/825 Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition and the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and a large number of proposals including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Green Claims Directive. W...

​Today, we delve into the pressing issue of PFAS, exploring their environmental impact, regulatory measures, and future implications in the United States. Join us as we uncover the complexities surrounding these chemicals and the efforts to address their impact on consumer products.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called 'forever chemical...

In a previous Lorax EPI blog from January, we stated that textile EPR reporting requirements would come into effect on 1st July 2024 in Latvia. This has now happened - this blog explains what you need to do to comply with textile EPR regulations in Latvia.Parties who place textile products onto the Latvian market for the first time. Companies must either ...

​Recycling stands out as a vital strategy to manage waste and to aid in the conservation of our resources. Within the spectrum of recycling methods, mechanical recycling is one of the most significant and most common. But what exactly is mechanical recycling, and how does it contribute to the bigger picture of sustainability?Mechanical recycling is the pr...

​In an era where sustainability is not just a choice but a necessity, the push towards using recycled content in packaging is gaining more momentum. Industries worldwide are increasingly focusing on the circular economy model, which involves more and more countries introducing post-consumer recycled (PCR) content targets. PCR content refers to the portion...

​Last month, the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment consulted on the Draft Sustainable Packaging Management Act, which would provide the legal basis for introduction of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging in Thailand. If passed into law, the new Draft Act would additionally create the legal basis for future regulations whi...

​As one of the biggest producer responsibility organisations (PROs) or schemes in Europe, Ecoembes is a leading player in the world of EPR. They are the main packaging scheme in Spain, and require producers who sell packaged products into Spain to report annually on multiple, different data points.At Lorax, we have studied this report for many years and h...

​As Extended Producer Responsibility ('EPR') regulations evolve and expand, keeping track of the ever-evolving regulations and how they relate to your company is vital. To help you keep ahead of this moving landscape, we are introducing ENVI™ Lite, our Global Online Regulatory Portal, designed to be your ally in navigating the intricate web of packaging, ...

​If you are a producer of goods in Kenya, there is a crucial question you need to ask yourself: Have you registered your products and associated packaging in accordance with the latest environmental regulations? The passage of the plastic bag ban in 2017 and enactment last year of section 13 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act No. 31 of 2022 framework...

​Having been relatively stable for many years, EU packaging legislation is currently undergoing a number of significant changes. The EU is currently either considering or has recently passed proposals including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the Green Claims Directive and the Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Framework. In this b...

​No longer a distant missile, textile reporting has already landed in several European countries, and is continuing to spread across the EU.A previous Lorax blog on textiles from 2021 stated that the EU Waste Framework Directive currently only requires member states to set up separate collection for textiles by 1 January 2025. More is needed to put this i...

​From 13-19 November 2023, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) convened in Nairobi for the Third Session (INC-3) of negotiations on the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The INC, which was established by the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2022, aims to negotiate a new legally binding glo...

​What is better for the planet – reusing our water bottles and food containers, or recycling them to make new ones? We should make less plastic in general – but how do we manage the plastic we already have and the current needs of the consumer?The refill vs recycling debate has been going on for years, and producers have found different ways to meet custo...

​The South Pacific Ocean is home to a diverse host of island nations that share many things from rich cultural traditions to a deep connection with nature. One thing they also have in common is the growing issue of marine pollution washing up on their shores.The capacity to manage domestic waste sustainably is a mutually growing problem in the region. It ...

​Maine is one of the first states to begin implementing packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. This law requires brands and packaging industry players to take financial responsibility for materials in the state's recycling system. Currently, four states are actively working to set up the operational framework for these programs.Main...

​As Extended Producer Responsibility ('EPR') regulations evolve and expand, it can be hard to keep up with the requirements and obligations. A solid data management process is essential to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best practices and tips for managing your EPR data effectively, through these 6 st...

​Junior Environmental Compliance Consultant Qin Audiawarman recently took part in a UN-sponsored packaging design project in Indonesia, in this blog we hear from Qin about the initiative, and look into why it is so important: 'I am thrilled to announce that I recently took a part in designing the packaging solution for Indonesia. This innovation was subm...

If you're a business owner in the UK selling packaged products, you're likely aware of the ongoing packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) reform. The EPR reform introduces extra layers of complexity to the existing packaging policies. In this article, we're here to provide you with clear information to help you navigate it effectively. The funda...

​In our last blog, we covered the general concept of EPR. Its benefits for governments are clear, as it shifts the costs of waste management away from taxpayers onto the companies that profit from the products and packaging that end up in the waste stream. It should also encourage producers to consider the sustainability of their goods and packaging, de...

​Introducing a 5-part mini-blog series, dedicated to helping you understand what EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) is, where it came from and how best to comply. As a business owner, you may be wondering how the new regulations on plastic packaging will affect your operations and costs. In this blog post, we will explain what Extended Producer Respon...

​Lorax EPI are extremely excited to announce that we have been named as finalists in two categories in the SME National Business Awards! We have been shortlisted for the Corporate Social Responsibility Award and the Sustainability award! In a year when there was a record number of award entries, even being amongst the finalists is a fantastic testament to...

The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has launched its first two International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that will aim to harmonise corporate climate disclosures, the IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 standards. Under the EU rules, listed companies have to prepare their consolidated financial statements according to a single set of internat...

​So it might not be very wise to make your packaging out of actual gold… However, if you are looking to lower Extended Producer Responsibility costs and help reduce the amount of plastic we consume, then it could be worth adopting the 'Golden Design Rules' for your packaging.The Golden Design Rules were developed by the Consumer Goods Forum's 'Plastic Was...

Whilst navigating the complex world of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) it can be overwhelming for the producer to keep up to date with legislative and reporting requirements. Lorax EPI are here to help!Following on from my blog post 'Why Data is King', keeping on top of your legal obligations for EPR reporting can be a challenge. The information th...

​Are you an exporter or a producer to Indonesian market? Be careful with your labelling making environmental claims because Indonesia has recently introduced a new eco-labelling criteria to promote environmentally sustainable practices across the country. The criteria, known as the SNI (Standar Nasional Indonesia or Indonesian National Standard) eco-label...

​Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Packaging Responsibility is something that is rapidly changing, and companies are having to adapt, this has meant changes for us here at Lorax EPI as well. We have recently had a number of new members join the team at once, so we thought it was a suitable time for some introductions.Why you chose to join Lorax: ...

Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content is a term that refers to materials that have been used and then recovered from products that have been disposed of by consumers, such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and paper. These materials are then recycled and used to make new products. This is a topic that has been gaining significant traction in the United S...

​Big cities are where the highest concentration of population density is found, meaning they produce the majority of our pollution. However, this means they are the biggest source from whence we can reduce our environmental impact. They are hubs for education, innovation, culture, and sharing ideas. Explaining the concept of a circular economy and how to ...

​When talking about extended producer responsibility (EPR), most people will focus on packaging, waste electronics and electrical items (WEEE) and batteries. But many countries have (or are planning) EPR requirements that extend far beyond these three categories.Canada in particular has a significant number of EPR requirements linked to the automotive in...

​The Scottish Government has announced a postponement of the launch date of their deposit return scheme from July 2022 to the 16th August 2023. All drinks in single-use containers made from PET plastic, glass, steel, or aluminium, sized between 50ml and 3 litres are covered in the scheme. A small deposit will be charged to customers for each beverage cont...

​It is becoming increasingly clear that the planet is under intense pressure from the over-consumption and exploitation of finite resources - creating severe consequences for nature and people worldwide. We can and must all play a part in creating a more sustainable present and future, which can start in both our personal and working lives.Knowing and und...

The Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Green Guides) were first released by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 1992 and have been revised several times since then. The Green Guides were designed to prevent marketers from misleading consumers by using certain environmental claims on their products. The guides are not laws, they do ...

Canada has always been a pioneer in the establishment of the EPR model. As early as 2009, the Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility was approved and adopted into the Canadian Waste Management Strategy. Provincial and territorial governments have been taking active progress in the EPR/Stewardship implementation since the national pla...

​As anyone who has tried to design a packaging solution that can be placed in multiple markets will know from bitter experience, European labelling legislation is complex and occasionally contradictory. Does the EU's proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation offer some hope for the future?At the moment, there are no mandatory EU-wide labelling re...

​Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging has seen rapid growth in the United States over the last 2 years. Four states have already passed EPR legislation, with seventeen more states having proposed EPR bills during their 2022 legislative sessions. The perspective of EPR in the United States is centred on the financials of waste management, t...

​Common misconceptions around the terms 'compostable / biodegradable / recyclable'. Sometimes when packaging says its 'environmentally friendly' or 'green', it's not all it's cracked up to be! We've put together a quick list of things to be aware of when you buy packaging that claims to be 'compostable', 'biodegradable' or 'recyclable', and some different...

​This year has been groundbreaking for extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation in the United States. On June 3rd this year, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 22-1355 into law, joining California, Oregon and Maine as the first four US states to pass this form of legislation.Colorado's EPR law affects producers of packaging and cert...

Waste Tracking is not a new concept – it is to monitor the movement of waste from one place to another, such as from household waste collectors to a recycling facility. It has been seen as a common mandatory requirement in lots of countries to keep the waste management process organized. Usually, waste type, waste quantity, drop-off details etc, are requi...

​The French producer responsibility organization for packaging, CITEO, released specific and thorough labelling guidance for their members at the end of last year, to help producers follow the less-detailed requirements of the law. As explained in a previous Lorax EPI blog from last year, the French law requires producers to include component pictograms (...

​For companies that are new to the world of environmental compliance, it can be difficult to know where to start. A number of countries both in Europe and across the world require you to report the amount of packaging, waste electronics (WEEE) and batteries that you place on the market, as part of extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. There will be...

​EPR legislation, SB54 or the Plastic Producer Responsibility Act, was signed by Governor Newsom into law on 30th June 2022. The bill requires that businesses in California take responsibility to pay for the cost associated with the recovery of materials they sell in the state.SB54 passing has kept the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, a plastics fee ballo...

​The amount of plastic waste is increasing exponentially. One million plastic bottles are purchased each minute and five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. Of the seven billion tonnes of plastic produced each year, only 10% is recycled. Our planet is choking on plastic. This calls into question whether our current frameworks and legislat...

3R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) have been brought up more regularly in countries' waste management policies. One of the key elements – 'Reuse', has been integrated into legislative requirements for packaging in some countries.There are three main types of requirements regarding reusable packaging:Mandatory targets for reusable packaging have been s...

​Whilst navigating the complex world of Extended Producer Responsibility it can be overwhelming for the Producer to know where to start. Lorax EPI are here to help! It starts with finding out if you are obligated to report by market; if you are obligated to report the next question is always, what data do you have? It allows you to record your packaging i...

​On 10 January 2022, the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment posted a new decree as part of the Law on Environmental Protection. This has given essential updates to aspects of the law with which many companies may find themselves needing to be compliant, as EPR regulations begin to come into force from 2024.The biggest change to t...

​To tackle the plastics waste pollution and establish a circular economy, the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has imposed mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility on Plastic packaging. The requirements were laid down in 'Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging' published on 16th February 2022. It's ...

​It is the countdown for the beginning of the UK plastic packaging tax.Next month, on 1 April 2022, if you import or manufacture more than 10 tonnes of plastic packaging annually, you will be obligated to register with HMRC for the UK plastics packaging tax. The first accounting period will be from 1 April to 30 June, and the first tax return and payment ...

​The United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) will host the fifth session for global leaders from 193 Member States to share best practices for sustainability from 28 February – 2 March 2022. On the theme of 'Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals', all Member States and stakeholders were asked for comments and i...

Lorax EPI would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! With the new year comes new obligations. This blog explores some of the global environmental packaging legislation that came into effect on 1 January 2022.Labelling: France's mandatory labelling system has been updated to obligate use of the Triman logo on all packaging. Sorting instructions must be ...

​Extended producer responsibility (EPR) in Russia is governed by two main bodies: the Russian government and the Eurasian Economic Union, or EAEU. Member States of the EAEU include Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, and regulations made by this body affect all affiliated countries. The main EPR system in Russia is set by the Russian gove...

Due to changes in French law, there are now even stricter regulations regarding the labels on packaging in France. As a result, the main producer responsibility organisation, CITEO, has published labelling guidelines for their members, showing the mandatory labels to be used.France is introducing new sorting labels, and part of this change expands the use...

​On the 8th of October 2021, Kenya became the 12th nation to join the Ellen Macarthur Foundation's Plastic Pact network by launching their own Plastic Pact. Led by Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB-K), and receiving support from 26 organisations, Kenya's Plastic Pact (KPP) is an attempt to move Kenya towards a circular economy for plastic, reduce ...

With so much global focus on transitioning to a circular economy, the packaging industry continues to explore sustainable alternatives to typical virgin plastic resins. ​'Bio-plastics' and 'degradable plastics' have become a hot topic in packaging design lately. However, do you understand these concepts, and are you marking your packaging correctly?Bio-ba...

​According to a draft bill that is expected to pass soon, Sweden will be introducing extended producer responsibility legislation for textiles from 1 January 2022. The EU Waste Framework Directive requires all Member States to set up separate waste collection for textiles by 2025. This is corroborated in the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, and Lorax EPI ...

​Countries around the world are considering the best way to fund waste management. It is becoming increasingly common for governments to believe that producers should finance the significant majority of the costs of waste management - but should this be through a plastics tax or extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees - and what's the difference?Some...

​Many companies are aware of the requirement to report their packaging waste to a compliance/stewardship scheme and pay for the costs incurred. But increasing numbers of countries also require producers to register with a national authority - and potentially report data or undergo period audits.​​In Europe, this requirement stems from the EU's Packaging ...

More than 450 organisations, representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced around the world, are now signed up for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, voluntarily agreeing to increase the circularity for plastic waste and eliminate all problematic and unnecessary plastic items. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has a...

​​This blog is part of a wider series from Lorax EPI, taking a deep dive into the current and future landscapes for packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations on a global scale.This blog focuses on Europe - where the concept of EPR first really took hold in the 1990s. The majority of European countries (whether or not members of the EU)...

​This blog is part of a wider series from Lorax EPI, taking a deep dive into the current and future landscapes for packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations on a global scale.Currently, EPR legislation in Latin America is in its early stages. Some countries have passed EPR framework, allowing for more formal regulations to be introduced...

Under a regulation from the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act of 2016, which was recently approved, producers of packaging and printed paper in Ontario will be required to assume full financial and operational responsibility for collecting, managing and financing designated materials, which up until now only required producers to contribute 50% f...

​This blog is part of a wider series from Lorax EPI, taking a deep-dive into the current and future landscapes for packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations on a global scale.At this time, minimal mandatory packaging EPR exists in Africa, though some countries are now entering the early stages of implementing such regulations. With Sout...

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was first introduced ​in the 1990s.​ The main objectives of EPR legislation are typically to ensure that the cost of waste management is covered by the businesses that are producing the waste, and to incentivise good environmental design decisions.​ Packaging EPR is becoming ​increasingly common​ around the world, w...

​Virtually every EPR compliance scheme in the world requires some form of regular reporting - maybe only once a year, but potentially every month. Some reports are relatively simple, but others can be significantly more complicated. So what information do schemes want?At the most basic level, schemes need the same information:Number/type of product plac...

Lorax EPI is pleased to be involved in endorsing the position statement released by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation today (15th June) for packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).It has become clear that we need a circular economy for packaging materials in which they never become waste or litter in our environment. Packaging that cannot be elimina...

The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, which was passed by the EU Commission in May 2019, enacts bans on certain single-use products, recycled content targets for some plastics and measures to reduce plastic food and beverage containers. It also requires Member States to ensure that national laws mandate new labels for sanitary towels, wet wipes, tobacco f...

​Countries (and regions) around the world are considering how best to reduce packaging waste. Typically, they are applying one or more of three options: bans, EPR fees or taxes and ​levies. A ban is straight-forward enough, but what's the difference between EPR fees, taxes and the EU plastics levy?EPR feesA fee paid to cover the cost of waste management...

​On 17 May 2021, the Governor of Washington State signed a bill into law which bans several expanded polystyrene items, mandates post-consumer recycled content in certain packaging and requires some producer reporting.By 1 April 2022 and annually thereafter, producers of plastic trash bags, plastic beverage containers and household cleaning and personal c...

​Like many topics, the concept of extended producer responsibility comes with an often confusing range of acronyms and highly specific terminology. But what does it all mean? In this post, we look at some of the most frequently used terms and phrases.​Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)The concept of producers being responsible for the waste generate...

First developed in the 1990s in Germany, the Green Dot does not (as is commonly believed) indicate that packaging is recyclable. Instead, it indicates that its manufacturer has contributed financially towards the cost of waste management - see my previous blog​ for details of this and other commonly used signs and symbols. ​Several years ago, many countr...

On 15th March 2021, the New York Senate Majority passed its one-house budget resolution. While most of the proposal is focused on providing emergency aid to help the state recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it also includes initiatives that prioritise environmental justice and pollution reduction. Specifically, the Senate Majority one-house State Budget ...

Lorax EPI is dedicated to simplifying global sustainability. Brand owners, retailers, manufacturers, producers and other industry professionals rely on our in-house software and international team of consultants to comply with wide-ranging stewardship obligations, keep ahead of legislation and advance their sustainability goals. One of the main ways our c...

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, launched the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment in October 2018. Signatories of the Commitment represent over one-fifth of all plastic packaging produced worldwide, and over 500 businesses, governments and industry organisations are united behind a common vision and ta...

​While many clients rely on Lorax EPI for our cloud-based EPR software to assist with legal product stewardship reporting obligations, we have been getting more and more inquiries for our environmental consulting services recently. EPR legislation differs from country to country (and sometimes province to province), making regulatory compliance a complex ...

​In the past five years, the European Commission has placed ever increasing emphasis on the need for the circularity of resources, and has published / amended a number of Directives to reflect this. ​In 2018, the European Council adopted the Circular Economy Package, which included amendments to the Waste Framework Directive (2018/851), the Landfill Direc...

​​2020 seems to be the year for taxes on plastic: the UK​, Spain, Italy and Indonesia (to name but a few) have all published details of their plans in recent months. Now the EU has announced that it will be introducing a levy on plastic packaging. So what actually is going to be taxed, how much for, and when are they going to start?Indonesia​​The Indone...

​Countries around the world either have, or are implementing producer responsibility regulations for products including packaging, batteries, tyres, antifreeze and electronics. Obligated producers need to register either with a government agency (most often the country's Environment Agency) or a producer responsibility scheme - or both! But what's invol...

​​​​​'…a policy memo to members of Congress on accelerating offshore wind energy development in U.S. waters; the introduction to my book on climate solutions; a presentation for a powerful corporation on how technology can advance ocean-climate solutions; a grant proposal to fund a network of women climate leaders; a fact check of a big-budget film script...

In recent months and years, we have seen countries around the world consider banning or taxing certain plastic products, such as bags, plates and straws (we have covered Italy​, Turkey​ and France in recent blog posts). However, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused many to question the safety of reusable alternatives, with some bans being postponed or over...

​On 26th May 2020, Repak, Ireland's packaging EPR regime, issued some updates to its 2020 reporting guidelines for its members. Key changes are as follows: Plastic Reporting CategoriesBeginning for Half 1 2020 data, plastic reporting categories will be divided into the following sections and subsections:PlasticRecycled rigid plasticRecycled flexible plast...

​Packaging, particularly plastic packaging, is often marked with a number of labels which the consumers may believe are linked to whether or not they can be recycled. Some are mandatory, others are optional, and some countries are changing the law around recycling labelling (see our earlier blog post​ on some of these changes).​ But do you know what som...

In 2018, Australia announced four new National Packaging Targets to be reached by 2025:100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging;70% of plastic packaging effectively recycled or composted;50% average recycled content in packaging; andPhase out problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging.​The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation...

​The Lorax EPI blog has focused a lot in recent months on the steps being taken by governments around the world (e.g. in France, China, Turkey and South Korea) to reduce plastic and other packaging waste. However, manufacturers and NGOs are voluntarily making commitments of their own. We recently discussed the launch of the European Plastics Pact, but w...

​Lorax EPI's US Managing Director Victor Bell was scheduled to present at the 35th Annual World Petrochemical Conference last month in New Orleans. While the in-person event has been postponed until next year, Bell has recorded his presentation, Introduction to Policy and Infrastructure, and it is now available for distribution.Here is a look at some of t...

Having been the world's main recipient of plastic waste for thirty years, China banned the import of most residential waste in 2017 (reducing imports from 581,000 metric tonnes in February 2017 to just 23,900 metric tonnes in February 2018). This has had a significant impact on other countries around the world, which are having to find alternative method...

The European Commission has just published a new Circular Economy Action Plan​, which builds on the European Green Deal that was published in December 2019. The Action Plan aims to drive environmental sustainability into the mainstream​, separating economic growth from resource consumption.​​Some of the key topics covered in the Action Plan include:​​​​E...

​With the rapid spread of COVID-19 comes a surge of uncertainty, a shift in legislative focus and a wave of temporary policies to maintain public health and minimise exposure to the virus.​​The general public is being directed to wash our hands more, avoid touching our faces and cough into elbows. People around the world are stockpiling plastic-wrapped to...

​Last week, the first regional Plastics Pact was launched in Europe. Governments and businesses from across the European Economic Area (EEA) have joined together to commit to reducing plastic waste and move towards creating a circular economy for plastics. Signatories of the European Plastics Pact commit to a number of shared goals, including:Designing a...

​Plastic is everywhere - in packaging, children's toys, furniture, and the houses we live in. The first fully synthetic plastic (Bakelite) was invented in 1907, and since then it has become a fundamental part of daily life in the Western world. Governments around the world are introducing legislation limiting or penalising its use (like ​Singapore, Chin...

Following an amendment to Turkey's Environmental Act (link in Turkish) that came into force on January 1, 2020, certain products are now subject to a Recycling Contribution Fee (GEKAP).The GEKAP has been introduced to help reduce waste, by obliging producers to pay a fee proportionate to the weight of the products they place on the market. Affected produ...

​France has just introduced extensive new legislation ​(link in French) on waste management and the circular economy (the concept of ​​​designing the economy to minimise waste and pollution and to keep resources in circulation). Among many other measures, the new legislation introduces additional EPR schemes for products including waste from food vendors,...

​China has recently published details of its plans to significantly reduce plastic pollution within five years. ​ The new legislation will introduce bans on ultra-thin plastic bags and the production and sale of disposable PS foam tableware. Other products that will be affected include plastic straws, disposable...

​The UK Government is trying again to get its Environment Bill passed into UK law.The Bill introduces a wide range of measures, including the establishment of a new Office for Environmental Protection, changes to the current system of producer responsibility and the ability to impose charges for single use plastic items (e.g. disposable cups) in addition ...

​Governments around the world are passing legislation restricting or banning the use of certain types or forms of plastic. Many more countries are discussing doing so, and there are several voluntary initiatives worldwide to supplement existing legislation. Many of the bans and initiatives which have been in place for a while have resulted in significan...

​Did you know that new regulations on​ WEEE and packaging will come into effect in Singapore from 2020? The Resource Sustainability Act 2019 will affect companies operating in Singapore who produce or import electronic and electrical equipment (including batteries), as well as those who supply goods in packaging.​Obligated companies will need to register...

​On 12th July, Turkey published the Regulation on Zero Waste (the ‘Regulation') in the Official Gazette, number 30829. This introduces the procedures and principles of the zero waste management system to be implemented in enterprises and industrial plants, such as airports, educational and healthcare institutions, manufacturing facilities and many more. T...

​Nigeria's e-waste production has increased​ by 170% from 2009 to 2017, with a generation of 290,000 tonnes in 2017. In addition to this, Nigeria receives shipments of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from abroad. 60,000 tonnes of WEEE are shipped into the country through Lagos ports alone, according to United Nations University research. ...

​As always, the Edie Live conference at the National Exhibition Centre was full of interesting and topical talks and debates. The main themes included single-use plastics and how to reduce these in addition to the need for introduction of extended producer responsibility (EPR) so producers take on the cost and responsibility of packaging and packaging was...

​On 10th May in Geneva, at the 14th meeting of the conference of parties to the Basel Convention, Governments agreed on landmark decisions to protect people and the environment from hazardous chemicals and waste, including plastic waste. Approximately 180 governments made the decision to amend the Basel Convention to include plastic waste in a legally bin...

The Singapore Packaging Agreement facilitates the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore and industry to work together in reducing packaging waste. The agreement introduces the principle of product stewardship for the lifecycle management of packaging for consumer goods. In Singapore, packaging waste constitutes around a third of domestic waste. ...

​In Saudi Arabia, the Technical Regulation for Degradable Plastic Products applies to all disposable products manufactured from polypropylene and polyethylene plastics which are often used for a short time. The regulation stipulates that the products are oxo-degradable then bio-degradable, where plastic products used in the medical and food industries are...

​From May 1, 2019 WEEE scope is being extended to passive equipment such as cables, sockets, plugs, switches, aerials and busbars in Germany. The new rule is only of relevance to end-equipment designed for operation with a maximum alternating voltage (AC) of 1,000 volts or a maximum direct voltage (DC) of 1,500 volts. Passive devices belong to categories ...

​The Packaging innovations event was held by Easyfairs over the 27th and 28th February with a major focus on sustainability. The Ecopack stage provided talks from industry experts, made more relevant than ever with the release of consultations from the UK Government. The consultations cover a tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content; a...

In Ontario the e-waste stewardship program is being wound-up and is set to cease by 30th June, 2020. This is due to the transition of the current program to a circular economy regime. During the running of the e-waste program, Ontario Electronic Stewardship collects and remits HTS on the fees charged to the stewards. Due to charging eco-fees to consumers...

In Hong Kong, a mandatory scheme has been introduced to create a circular economy for glass. This will provide practicable solutions for at source separation, collection logistics, proper treatment and recovery outlets for the waste glass material. The Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Product Container) (Amendment) Bill 2015​, which lays out th...

The UK Plastics Pact, brought about by WRAP, aims to create a circular economy for plastics. Through bringing together businesses from the entire plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs, with the goal of overcoming plastic waste. Business members who are responsible for placing plastic packaging on the UK market are obligated to contribute a rep...

Following our last blog covering EPR updates in South America, we have more news to keep you up to speed. There has been further development in EPR legislation alongside many single-use plastic restrictions. In Brazil, we see the further development of the National Solid Waste Policy. A new Chamber of Deputies Bill No. 11186/2018 would make amendments to...

An extended producer responsibility obligation for non-packaging products exists in Slovakia in addition to the obligation for EEE, batteries and accumulators, packaging, vehicles and pneumatic tyres. Non- packaging products belong to one of the following groups of products which will become a part of municipal waste:Articles of plastics consisting of pol...

Extended producer responsibility and general waste legislation has been developing continually in Latin America for a few years now. Here is a summary of the latest and most significant legislative updates. In Brazil, Law No. 8151 of 1​ November 2018 established the system of reverse logistics of packaging and packaging waste, within the scope of the Sta...

Today, 18th December, the UK Government has launched their long-awaited Resourses and Waste Strategy (RWS) as part of the 25 Year Environment Plan. In the Plan, the Government pledged to leave the environment in a better condition for the next generation, the RWS will be implemented to meet this commitment by becoming a world leader in using resources eff...

The Environment Audit Committee (EAC) is investigating the social and environmental impact of disposable fast fashion and the wider clothing industry. The inquiry is looking into how clothes can be recycled, and the waste and pollution reduced. On 27th November, the EAC questioned leading high street, luxury and online fashion retailers as part of their i...

Changes will be introduced for the Italian packaging scheme, Conai, from January 1st 2019. There will be diversification for polylaminated packaging suitable for containing liquids, such as containers used for fruit juices, milk and preserves. Compared to the environmental contribution for paper and cardboard packaging of €20.00 per ton, the additional c...

There have been changes announced by Finnish packaging scheme, Rinki, to their packaging declaration to be introduced from 1st January 2019, to be applied to 2018 data. These include exclusion of deposit packaging, separate reporting of conventional and biodegradable plastic packaging and more specific definitions for wooden packaging. Deposit packaging ...

On 24th October, the European Parliament voted to back an EU ban on throwaway plastics by 2021. Items such as plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks will be banned if approved by the Member States ministers at the next stage of talks. In addition, MEPs added oxo-plastics and certain polystyrenes to the to the ban proposed by the commission. Furthermore, ...

Following our webinar last month updating you on the plastic bans and EPR progress in South America, we have seen further proposed laws in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru. Here's a quick summary of the latest news. In Argentina, two Chamber of Deputies Bills have been proposed. One would establish a program for the progres...

As someone completely new to the industry, I wasn't sure what to expect from the RWM Conference. In fact, there was such a wide range of topics and presenters that it gave a surprisingly accessible overview of the issues facing us at the moment, particularly when I was able to attend multiple talks and panels on similar themes. Wednesday's panels by John ...

Over the last year we have seen the devastating effects of plastic pollution in the oceans on marine life through entanglement and ingestion. However, there are additional threats which are not so visible on the macroscale. Microplastics and chemicals in plastics are posing a potentially increasing and often unknown risk in the natural environment. In thi...

This week, 24 – 30th September, is the UK's 15th annual recycle week. This year's theme is: ‘Recycling. We do. Because it matters.' which aims to encourage the public to recycle more, by demonstrating the benefits of recycling items from all around the home. This year, plastic and recycling is very much in the spotlight, this is a great opportunity for bu...

At RWM this year we heard from Costa Coffee on how they are making sure that plastic lined take away coffee cups are being recycled. This is big news right now, consumers are more aware than ever of the environmental impacts of plastic and are turning against items such as single use take away cups. The Environment Audit Committee proposed a latte levy an...

The majority of Lorax staff attended RWM Conference 2018 after such a positive experience in 2017. We heard from countless waste and resources experts, consultants, members of advisory committees, NGOs and an inspiring MP. Key themes of the conference included global extended producer responsibility, plastic packaging and pollution, the future of EPR and ...

Earlier this year, the French Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition released their Circular Economy Roadmap (FREC) which is an operational transition from a linear ‘make, consume, throw' economic model to a circular model that integrates the entire product life cycle. This covers ecodesign, management of waste, consumption and reduction of wast...

In an Environment Audit Committee session with Michael Gove, the Secretary of State was quizzed on the future of environmental standards following Brexit. Gove reaffirmed that the Government wants to enhance or even increase the level of environmental standards currently in place, although the Committee insist that following the publication of the Governm...

Following the airing of David Attenborough's Blue Planet II, awareness of the global plastics problem​ increased drastically and plastics have become demonised. According to research by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in the past 50 years, plastic production has increased from 15 million tonnes in 1964 to 311 million tonnes in 2014 and is expected to doub...

The OECD published a report in June 2018, detailing the impact of online sales of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) in Europe, the United States and Canada. Online sales of EEE are now a major and growing part of retail in most OECD countries. A very significant proportion of these sales involve cross-border trade, and free-riding related to this ...

​The EU Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste of 1994, as amended, lays down measures to prevent production of packaging waste, reuse of packaging, recycling and other forms of recovering packaging waste and therefore reducing the final disposal of such waste. The majority of Member States have implemented this through extended producer resp...

Extended producer responsibility Producers of packaging in Europe are obligated under the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive to cover the cost of collection and recycling of packaging waste. They do this by paying a fee for the weight of packaging they place on the market in each respective country. This fee is usually paid to a pack...

What is it?The Green Dot is a widely recognised symbol on packaging in many European Countries. The mark signifies that for that piece of packaging, a financial contribution has been paid to a national packaging recovery organisation, set up in accordance with the principles defined in the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62 and the res...

A report by the National Audit Office examined the packaging recycling obligations in the UK in response to a request from the Environmental Audit Committee. The report was published on 23 July and below summarises the key findings. The UK's Environment Audit Committee asked the National Audit Office to review the system due to concerns that it could b...

On 12th July, Recycle BC published their revised plan as the second phase of their steward consultation of the program. The program is the only residential packaging and paper product (PPP) program in Canada that is entirely financed and operated by producers. In 2017, 175,000 tonnes of the programs members' material were recovered, achieving a recovery r...

Plastic is the buzzword of the moment in both industry and with consumers. Industry is faced with a tide of regulations, policy and voluntary initiatives whilst consumers are becoming more aware than ever the effect their consumption is having on the environment and our planet, you only need to look at the Instagram hashtags and campaigns to see that cons...

Extended producer responsibility laws require producers to cover the cost of collection, recycling for the end of life of products they have placed on the market. However, some producers go above and beyond their responsibilities under the law to minimise their impact on the environment. These are just some of those industry heroes… IKEAIKEA have moved a...

The Environment and communications references committee has made many recommendations to the Australian government concerning the waste and recycling industry. Following evidence and comments from the industry, proposals have been submitted relating to the establishment of a circular economy; prioritisation of the waste hierarchy; the phasing out of petro...

On 14 June, the Official Journal of the European Union published the EU waste legislative package which includes amendments to the Directives on end-of-life vehicles; batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators; waste electrical and electronic equipment; landfill of waste; waste and packaging and packaging waste among others. These ame...

On the 5th, 6th and 7th of June this year, the annual packaging waste and sustainability forum was held in Brussels. The days were filled with interesting talks from members of the European Commission, producers and retailers, industry representatives and producer responsibility organisations (PROs) who addressed topics such as the new EU recycling target...

Earlier this year, the Secretary of State for the Environment in the UK, Michael Gove, announced a reform of the current PRN system based on a consultation taking place later this year. Following this, there has been a lot of talk about modulated fees, which are already in place in the French and Italian packaging compliance schemes, CONAI and Citeo. Modu...

On the 22nd and 23rd May, edie held their energy, sustainability and resource efficiency conference at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Their theme this year was mission possible: achieving a sustainable future. The conference was packed with exhibitions, advice clinics and a live theatre programme which was split into four areas: sustainabil...

Lorax Compliance are attending Edie Live on 22-23 May, 2018, at the NEC in Birmingham. Edie Live aims to show you how to achieve a sustainable future. The event is tailor made to fit the needs of sustainability, energy and resource professionals. It offers seminars, workshops and advice clinics. At the event Lorax Compliance will be offering free 121 advi...

Today, 18th April, the European Parliament voted to approve the package, a key part of the Circular Economy Action Plan, to update the current waste management rules. There was an overwhelming majority with 639 votes to 13 and 17 absentions. There are new, ambitious recycling and landfilling targets which will be used to increase the re-use of materials a...

Maharashtra, India's second most populous state is banning certain types of disposable plastic. A plastic ban has been introduced in the state through the Maharashtra Plastic and polystyrene Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Store) Notification, 2018, which was published under the Maharashtra Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) A...

On 12 April 2018, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change issued direction to Stewardship Ontario to wind up the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) Program by December 31st, 2020. Materials collected under the MHSW program will be managed according to an individual producer responsibility framework under the Resource Recovery and Circu...

The Decree 79/2017, of 28 December 2017, approving the Regulation on the Extended Responsibility of Producers and Importers of Packaging, was approved by the Council of Ministers and came into force on 29th December 2017. The Regulation applies to all public and private entities, natural or legal persons engaged in the production, import and management of...

If you're used to reading our regular updates you will already be aware that the German Packaging Act is changing from January 2019. This short blog aims to give you the low down on some of the important changes that may affect you and what you need to prepare for in the next 8 months. ​​Registration requirement One of the changes that will affect produce...

​As with other EU countries, on 15 August numerous legislative changes to the German WEEE Act ElektroG will come into force. This blog aims to inform you of the changes and if you need to act. From 15 August 2018 Open Scope will be applicable in Germany under ElektroG, from this time all electrical and electronic equipment will fall into scope of the WEEE...

Here at Lorax, in an effort to reduce our use of plastic, we took part in Plastikfasten. This involved aiming to give up or reduce the amount of plastic we use during the 40 days of Lent. As part of the challenge, we collected any plastic used in the office as well as collecting and weighing any plastic each of us used at home. When it comes to the weekly...

Today, the government has announced it will introduce a deposit return scheme in England for single use drinks containers, subject to a consultation later this year. The consultation will cover details of how the scheme would work, alongside other measures to increase recycling rates. Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: 'We can be in no doubt that pl...

Recently, there has been a great deal of publicity concerning ocean plastic pollution. Plastic litter, which makes its way into rivers and coastlines, eventually becomes part of the five gyres in our oceans. These pieces of plastic can be ​broken down into smaller pieces by sunlight, waves and salt. Waterborne chemicals from industry agriculture can stick...

On the 8th March, the European Parliament published amendments to the Cohesion policy and the circular economy draft opinion​. ​​​​​The amendments include numerous changes and several new paragraphs concerning implementation of the circular economy in Member States and the impact of China's new restrictions. The amendments bring​ a focus onto the need fo...

On the 20th and 21st February, the European Commission held an EU Stakeholder Conference on the circular economy. The conference aimed to address the challenges and opportunities in delivering the circular economy through plenary sessions, a number of break out sessions and keynote speeches. ​The first plenary session discussed the EU Strategy for Plastic...

Recently the Government has been called upon to take action on our societies throw away habits, with plastic water bottles and disposable coffee cups in the spot light. Despite the readily available alternatives, recycling rates have stalled, and our behavioural habits are yet to change. A new scheme set up by industry body Water UK aims to offer free wat...

​As we enter the new year it seems, and rightly so, that plastic and its waste is in the spotlight now. In a bid to cut plastic waste many initiatives are being brought in, not just in the UK and the EU but globally. But are these initiatives good enough, Can we do more, and how exactly do we go about implementing all these great ideas? There is always an...

In Turkey, The Regulation on Packaging Waste Control was published in the country's official gazette on 27 December and took effect on 1 January 2018. The new regulation details new recycling targets, changes to EPR and will introduce a charge on plastic bags from 1st January 2019, prohibiting the distribution of free plastic bags. ​Under the revised regu...

December and January is​​ a busy time of year for us at Lorax Compli​​ance Ltd. We are busy updating all the information in our database and software on the changes to extended producer responsibility schemes for packaging, WEEE, batteries an​d all other extended producer responsibility schemes such as textiles, tyre and deposit schemes. ​ ​​​ ...

Similar to WEEE, packaging and batteries, vehicles are subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations in the EU to ensure they are disposed of in an environmentally sound manner at the end of their useful life. Producers in member states are obligated for vehicles, including their components, spare and replacement parts and materials. EUA ...

On 18th December, the Estonian presidency reached a provisional agreement with representatives of the European Parliament on all four legislative proposals of the waste package. The revised circular economy package was presented by the European Commission on 3rd December 2015 with four waste legislative proposals of the waste package and an Action Plan in...

​New regulations have been introduced in Ireland for the end of life waste management of tyres. Legislation has been introduced as there is a lack of information regarding the tyre market in Ireland. By putting an obligation on producers to report they will be able to get data on the number of tyres being placed on the market and how many end up as waste....

In June this year, ECHA released a revised guidance​ concerning articles under REACH. The European Court of Justice ruling from September 2015 means that the 0.1% concentration of candidate list substance threshold now applies to individual components within the products. ​Whereas previously, t​​​​he threshold applied to the concentration over a whole com...

There is currently an array of changes occurring in South America in relation to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and recycling laws. Countries such as Brazil, Chile a​nd Argentina are catching up with Europe as many new EPR Bills are proposed. ​ArgentinaIn Argentina, a Bill has been proposed to modify the Integrated Management of Househ...

The Substances in Preparations in Nordic Countries (SPIN) database contains information on the chemicals that are used in the Nordic countries, based on the Products Registries of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. In these countries, manufacturers and/or importers of substances must submit a notification to the Product Register. The chemicals to be rep...

Currently in the UK, electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and WEEE are categorised and reported under 14 categories which comprises of 10 compulsory categories and 4 subcategories. The EU WEEE Directive (Directive 2012/19/EU) introduced a number of changes to the original Directive (Directive 2002/96/EC), inclu​ding an 'Open Scope' of 6 revised categ...

Lorax Compliance Ltd visited the RINA Consulting conference on Electrical and Electronic Equipment and the Environment 2017 at the Heathrow Hilton on 1st/2nd November and enjoyed 2 days of fantastic learning and networking. In an agenda packed full of updates on legislation, analysis of studies and presentations from companies handling electronics, it is ...

​Back in August Dual Systems, otherwise known as compliance schemes, Der Grüne Punkt, BellandVision and Interseroh released a statement to announce that they are terminating their clearing agreements. They stated that some systems are repeatedly failing to meet their obligations and that new clearing agreements ensure fair competition and an equitable tra...

Deposit return schemes add a small deposit on to the cost of drinks which is refunded to the consumer when the container is returned. Hence, the incentive for consumers to recycle their drinks containers is much greater. Containers, such as glass, can be refilled and other such as cans can be recycled, eliminating wastage of the containers. However, such ...

This week, 25th September to 1st October, is Recycle Week in the UK. This is the 14thannual recycling, this year with the theme of 'Recycling – It's Worth It!'. This week, organised by WRAP, aims to encourage the public to recycle more, by demonstrating the benefits of recycling from all around the home. Why recycle?Currently only 14% of plastic reaches r...

The RWM is an exhibition of four industry events – The Energy Event, The Renewables Event, The Water Event and RWM. Held in the National Exhibition Centre over 3 days, the event had six zones representing the Ene​rgy, Water and recycling and waste markets.RWM's Mission Statement:'RWM seeks to build a community for a resource-efficient future. We co...

​The Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act requires manufacturers who sell covered electronic equipment​ (CEE) in New York to provide a convenient system for collecting, handling and recycling or reusing electronic waste. The law, signed in on 28th May 2010, prohibited consumers from throwing out e-waste in their normal rubbish bins. Manufac...

What will happen to REACH legislation in the UK once we leave the EU? There has been much speculation over the past few months as to which regulatory direction UK REACH will head in once we leave the EU. This blog aims to give you the latest developments for chemical legislation in the UK in light of Brexit. Background The EU regulati...

EU REACH regulations enco​​​​mpass the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemical substances manufactured or imported into the EU or EEA above 1 tonne per year. This regulation provides an extensive database of the risks and uses of chemical substances, mixtures and articles and the opportunity for information sharing between companies who use...

There's a wealth of knowledge about the negative effect plastic waste has on the environment. This blog seeks to uncover what the problems are and how governments and industry can stop it from getting worse. The problemRecently it seems that we have been overwhelmed with devastating facts and figures concerning the negative impact of plastic waste on our...

​Currently, in Australia, only 5% of handheld rechargeable batteries are recycled. Many of these contain hazardous substances with the capacity to harm people and the environment. This was one of the issues discussed by Commonwealth, State and Territory Environment Ministers on 28th July in Melbourne. They recognised successful pilot schemes in Toowoomba ...

Obligations and reporting thresholds for packaging, WEEE and battery schemes vary from scheme to scheme and country to country. Obligation thresholds are more typically implemented through packaging waste legislation and reporting thresholds can be seen in p​​ackaging, WEEE and battery legislation. However, many countries have not implemented thresholds a...

​Éco Entreprises Quebec has released a statement to say that they are currently considering adding containers, packaging and printed matter ​​sold as short-lived products and those produced through the B2B trade to the designated materials classes. This change will contribute to their ongoing efforts to stabilise the materials rates. Background EEQ is a n...

This afternoon at 15.15 the EU Council announced that they have reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a proposal for the revision of the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) Directive. Just last week on the 14 June we reported that the Council had agreed its negotiat...

Following on from our last blog CONAI: Plastic Packaging Reporting Changes here are the latest updates on packaging compliance in Italy and how you should be reporting for the remainder of 2017. We have outlined two major changes in the CONAI scheme and we now have further information on the details and reporting schedules required.As a refresher, CONAI w...

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a global issue and no longer contained in regulation within the EU. Latin America has recently seen a surge in EPR style legislation being implemented and many countries are in various stages of development of EPR regulations, Chile is no exception. Today's blog focusses on what you should be doing if you sell cer...

The Spanish Battery and Accumulators Register is to be adapted in line with changes to the new Royal Decree. The changes, which will affect battery submissions in Spain, are in effect for the next declaration period. This will cover products sold during 1Q 2017, which will need to be submitted by April​​ 20th 2017. The information below gives guidance on ...

​Directives, EPR and Environmental Reporting:What are EU directives?A European Union Directive is distinct from a regulation. A regulation is a binding legislative act which must be applied in its entirety across the EU. A Directive on the other hand is a legislative act that sets out a goal for all EU countries to meet through implementing their own nati...

​​A standalone Amendment to the environmental protection product fee has been brought in effective from 1 January 2017. There are no major changes to the legislation, however it brings about clarification on a number of issues. Chain transactions The rules on chain transactions have been clarified. A change to the legislation last year meant that foreign ...

Across the world PRO organisations are available for companies to join in order to comply with their Extended Producer Responsibility reporting. Compliance schemes are membership organisations that register members with the relevant authority and ensure that companies meet their financial obligations under the different EPR directives. Some countries have...

The EU's focus on resource preservation and reuse has put manufacturers under increasing pressure over the past two decades to meet strict legislative requirements on environmental reporting. This has created a tricky path for producers to navigate as reporting requirements differ in each country. Depending on the size of your company, you could have come...

Sociedade Pontoverde, the Portuguese packaging compliance scheme, will only deal with household packaging waste from 1 January 2017. Packaging to be submitted will include packaging of fast moving consumer goods – primary, check out bags and multipacks.SPV will no longer manage secondary or tertiary packaging for the packaging of fast moving consumer good...

CONAI, the Italian packaging scheme, are making changes to their reporting requirements in 2017. The first amendment will be to diversify the environmental contribution for plastic packaging based upon the environmental impact it has. Plastic has been chosen as it is the most complex material in terms of variety of types, selection and recycling technolog...

If you are gearing up to submit your 2017 packaging waste report to RINKI in Finland please note that there have been some changes to the submission based on 2016 sales. The key changes are new fees and new reporting categories.New CategoriesThe form now includes some additional rows for plastic which are: plastic packaging for consumers, shopping bags fo...

​As we approach the holiday season, the last thing anyone wants to think about are Waste (packaging/WEEE/battery) submission deadlines coming up in the New Year. Compliance teams will be using the first few weeks back from the holidays to frantically collect together sales data, product data, materials and weights, as well as, remember what was done a yea...

​Did you know that Austria's waste management scheme Alstoff Recycling Austria (ARA) is changing its fees from the 1 January 2017? If you are a packaging producer in Austria, you may be affected.ARA rates also rose in 2016, however despite a significant downturn in the Austrian waste sector with cost increases of up to 13%, ARA implemented extensive cost ...

WEEE Legislation has been active in India since 2011, however an update in October has made some changes to their e-waste (management) rules. Read our blog to ensure you have all the information on the changes and to keep yourselves compliant. What is it? On October 1 2016 E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016 came into force in India. The previous E-Waste Mana...

In June 2016 Ontario took a major step towards reforming waste management practices and policy. The Waste Free Ontario Bill outlines the framework for the transition to a new system. The system aims to divert more waste from landfills, create jobs and encourage innovation. The Act enshrines in law the obligation for decision makers to implement an expansi...

The new Slovakia Waste Management Act 79/2015 Coll.​ came into force in January 2016, with some provisions of the act valid from July 2016, to increase the separate collection and recycling of certain types of waste. The new act governs the entire waste management sector. The act covers electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and accumulator...

Last month our blogs focussed around disposable coffee cups and the amount of waste they produce in landfill, and in June we looked at the effect plastic packaging is having on our oceans. There is currently considerable publicity surrounding these topics and the media is quick to notice the environmental effects and their social issues. However, it's imp...

​What is the future of the battery and does it have a place in our rapidly changing technologies? Ever since the discovery of electricity, modern man has developed ways to store it through the use of batteries. A discovery in 1938 by archaeologist Wilhelm Konig that has puzzled many is the discovery of the 'Baghdad Battery'. The Baghdad Batt...

​Coffee Shops are everywhere now, meeting for a coffee at one of 16,500 shops in the UK is a social meeting activity that millions of us take part in every day. However, should people think again about that take-away cuppa and what happens to it after it is thrown away? James Gibbs explores reusability in a high profile waste sector. 50 Billion disp...

​Germany transposed the WEEE recast in October 2015 through ElektroG2. The law allowed for certain obligations to be phased in. As of Monday 25 July the take back obligation for traders of waste electrical equipment entered into force. The obligation to take back applies to both retailers and online traders with a sales or shipping/storage space of >40...

In recognition of World Oceans day 2016, this month's blog is dedicated to all things plastic and the environmental solutions we can all contribute to lessen the amount of plastic waste ending up in our oceans. Because there's no two ways about it, plastic is polluting the ocean. World Oceans Day on 8 June aimed to raise awareness of the impact that plast...

The EU's focus on resource preservation and reuse has put manufacturers under increasing pressure over the past two decades to meet strict legislative requirements on environmental reporting. However, the compliance process can be a tricky path to navigate – especially when reporting requirements differ in each country.Manufacturers across Europe have bee...