The Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (EXPRA) has announced a significant expansion of its global network with the addition of its newest member, the PRO Alliance from South Africa. This marks EXPRA’s first partnership in Sub-Saharan Africa and represents an important milestone in the organisation’s mission to strengthen and harmonise non-profit EPR systems worldwide.
The PRO Alliance, a collective of producer responsibility organisations mandated under South Africa’s national EPR regulations, represents producers and retailers involved in manufacturing, importing, or using paper and packaging materials. Operating on a not-for-profit basis, it is committed to building an environmentally sound, socially inclusive, and economically sustainable post-consumer packaging recycling system. Its work focuses on developing national recycling infrastructure, supporting innovative collection and recycling initiatives, creating economies of scale, and driving public awareness campaigns with real environmental impact. The organisation operates under circular economy principles and collaborates closely with experienced industry leaders in the waste management sector.
With this partnership, EXPRA’s network now includes 35 PROs across 32 countries in Europe, Canada, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia, and now South Africa—further consolidating EXPRA’s position as the global voice of non-profit PROs. The PRO Alliance aligns closely with EXPRA’s values and its 10 Golden Rules for EPR, particularly in terms of transparency, efficiency, and sustainability.
Commenting on the new membership, Joachim Quoden, Managing Director of EXPRA, emphasised the importance of this step in the organisation’s global mission:
“We are delighted to welcome our new South African colleagues into the EXPRA family,” said Joachim Quoden, Managing Director of EXPRA. “This marks an important milestone in our mission to promote sustainable EPR systems worldwide. By joining forces—particularly given their experience and best practices in involving the informal sector—we can exchange knowledge on collection and recycling infrastructure, financing, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that EPR continues to deliver real environmental and social benefits.
The PRO Alliance also stressed the mutual value of this collaboration, noting that South Africa is pioneering a hybrid EPR model that integrates compliance, innovation, and social justice. By working within the EXPRA network, the organisation aims to learn from global best practices while offering its own perspectives from the Global South.
With this new membership, EXPRA continues to act as the trusted global platform for PROs, helping its members deliver sustainable waste management solutions that protect the environment, serve consumers, and support producers in meeting their responsibilities.