Brussels, 9 May 2025
EXPRA Re-elects Board and Appoints Hester Klein Lankhorst as New President
During its Spring General Assembly meeting in The Hague, EXPRA — the alliance of 34 Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) for packaging that operate on a not-for-profit basis — re-elected its Board of Directors for the 2025–2027 mandate.
New President Appointed
Ms. Hester Klein Lankhorst, CEO of Verpact, has been appointed as the new President of EXPRA. Throughout her career, the circular economy has been a consistent theme. Starting as a legal professional, she advanced to advisory and leadership positions at the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (later Infrastructure and Water Management). She later served as Director of the Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging and Rebel Next Economy. Ms. Klein Lankhorst has now led Verpact (formerly the Packaging Waste Fund) for five years.
She succeeds Mr. Claude Turping, CEO of Valorlux, EXPRA’s member organization in Luxembourg.
Board of Directors Re-elected
The General Assembly re-elected EXPRA’s eleven Board members for a new two-year term. The Board represents the following organizations:
- Verpact (The Netherlands)
- CONAI (Italy)
- EKO KOM (Czech Republic)
- Ecoembes (Spain)
- Greenpak (Malta)
- Green Dot Norway (Norway)
- Fost Plus (Belgium)
- Valorlux (Luxembourg)
- ECOPACK (Bulgaria)
- EEQ (Canada)
The Board also includes EXPRA’s Managing Director, Mr. Joachim Quoden.
Statements from Leadership
Ms. Hester Klein Lankhorst, EXPRA President:
“We are entering a transformative era for packaging EPR, especially in Europe but also in other parts of the world. With the adoption of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, the legislative landscape is evolving rapidly — bringing significant responsibilities but also new momentum for Producer Responsibility Organisations.
These developments set the foundation for the EPR systems of tomorrow, with increased accountability and greater expectations for stakeholder collaboration. As EXPRA, we stand ready to help shape this new framework, ensuring it supports a truly circular and climate-resilient economy in Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand.
I am honoured to take on this role at such a critical time and thank my predecessor, Mr. Claude Turping, for his great leadership and contributions.”
Mr. Claude Turping, Former President of EXPRA:
“Leading EXPRA during a time of major policy formation was both a challenge and a privilege. The adoption of the PPWR marks a pivotal shift in how we manage packaging waste and producer responsibility in Europe.
I am confident that Hester Klein Lankhorst, with her deep expertise and commitment, will guide EXPRA and its members through this new chapter, ensuring that these policies are implemented in a way that delivers environmental and societal value.”
Mr. Joachim Quoden, Managing Director of EXPRA:
“The current regulatory framework calls for decisive and coordinated action from all Member States and Producer Responsibility Organisations. As the PPWR reshapes national systems, it is vital to recognise the diverse realities on the ground across Member States.
Our shared priority must be to strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, including through the promotion and implementation of best practices. Reaching the EU’s ambitious recycling targets at scale will require strong, consistent contributions from every Member State and system. EXPRA remains fully committed to guiding and supporting its members throughout this journey.”
About EXPRA
The Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (EXPRA) is the umbrella organization for 34 packaging and packaging waste recovery and recycling systems. Owned and operated by obligated industry stakeholders on a not-for-profit basis, EXPRA acts as the authoritative voice and common policy platform for its members. EXPRA members serve more than 250 million citizens with packaging collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure, and are responsible for the recycling and recovery of over 23 million tons of packaging annually.
For more information, visit: www.expra.eu