On 8 May 2025, EXPRA held its highly anticipated General Assembly at the Hilton Hotel in The Hague, Netherlands. The event brought together representatives from over 20 Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) spanning Europe and beyond, creating a vibrant forum for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and advancing the principles of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and sustainable packaging waste management.
The 2025 Assembly featured a comprehensive and engaging agenda designed to address the most pressing developments in the EPR landscape. Key updates included discussions on recent and upcoming EU legislation, national-level EPR initiatives, and a forward-looking outlook for the year ahead. A standout feature was the Round Table Lobby session, which encouraged candid, in-depth dialogue among members, fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding.
Esteemed guest speakers enriched the event with their expert insights. Mr. Jan Vlak, President of the WEEE Forum, shared his perspective on the challenges and opportunities surrounding the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Meanwhile, Mr. Hans van Bochove, Head of EU Affairs at Heineken, highlighted the evolving responsibilities of brand owners within the regulatory framework, emphasizing the importance of proactive engagement and innovation.
The Assembly also showcased a series of member presentations that provided valuable case studies and updates from across the PRO network. Verpact (Netherlands) discussed the integration of EPR and Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), highlighting the benefits and complexities of combining these approaches. Rekopol (Poland) presented a comparative analysis of EPR versus tax-based systems, offering insights into policy effectiveness and implementation challenges. NPRS (Australia) shared progress on developing an EPR system specifically for soft plastics, addressing a critical area in packaging waste reduction. Ecoembes (Spain) detailed its experiences navigating competition, DRS, and the efforts to restart PRO systems under evolving regulatory pressures.
A significant milestone at the EXPRA GENERAL Assembly was the election of Ms. Hester Klein Lankhorst, CEO of Verpact, as the new President of EXPRA for the 2025–2027 term. Ms. Lankhorst’s extensive expertise in EPR and sustainability is expected to strengthen EXPRA’s leadership and strategic direction. Alongside this, the Board of Directors was re-elected for another two-year term, ensuring continuity and stability in governance. The Board members represent a broad cross-section of PROs, including Verpact (Netherlands), CONAI (Italy), EKO KOM (Czech Republic), Ecoembes (Spain), Greenpak (Malta), Green Dot Norway (Norway), Fost Plus (Belgium), Valorlux (Luxembourg), ECOPACK (Bulgaria), and EEQ (Canada). Mr. Joachim Quoden, EXPRA’s Managing Director, continues to play a pivotal role on the Board.
Attendees received crucial updates on EU regulatory developments, with ongoing discussions around the PPWR occupying a central focus. EXPRA and its members are actively aligning strategies and responses to ensure compliance and advocate for effective, practical regulations that support circular economy goals.
The in-person format of the General Assembly underscored the value of face-to-face interaction in building trust, fostering partnerships, and enhancing strategic cooperation. As the EPR landscape evolves rapidly, such gatherings are essential for sharing best practices, addressing common challenges, and driving collective action.
Once again, the 2025 EXPRA General Assembly proved to be an indispensable event that reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation among PROs. With a renewed leadership team and a clear strategic focus, EXPRA is well positioned to support its members in meeting the sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow.