The EXPRA Balkan Members Workshop, held from 8–10 October in Istanbul, once again proved to be an inspiring and enriching experience. Hosted by EXPRA’s Turkish member ÇEVKO, the workshop brought together members in a setting that combined rich history and warm hospitality, creating the ideal environment for international collaboration, learning, and meaningful exchange.
EXPRA’s Balkan Workshops are far more than formal meetings. They are dynamic platforms where ideas turn into action and members share expertise, experiences, and best practices. This year’s sessions covered a broad range of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) topics, as well as management and operational updates, with contributions from Türkiye (ÇEVKO), North Macedonia (PAKOMAK), Cyprus (Green Dot Cyprus), Bosnia & Herzegovina (EKOPAK), Greece (HERRCO), Hungary (ÖKO-PANNON), Bulgaria (ECOPACK), and Serbia (SEKOPAK).
Guest countries the Netherlands (Verpact), Italy (CONAI), Poland (REKOPOL), and Slovakia (ENVI-PAK) further enriched the discussions by sharing valuable perspectives and experiences. Each presentation offered insights into the challenges and successes of implementing effective EPR systems across Europe, reaffirming that EPR works best when grounded in collaboration, transparency, and practical experience.
Participants stressed the importance of remaining connected and united across borders. Without sound governance, EPR risks becoming a hollow concept—particularly where state-run PROs focus only on profitable waste streams or where fees are not fully reinvested into collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure.