EXPRA Newsletter – Fourth Quarter 2025
Introduction by the managing director
Introduction
Dear Esteemed Readers,
As 2025 draws to a close, it is an opportune moment to reflect on a year that has been long, intense, and profoundly rewarding for the EXPRA community. This year, EXPRA strengthened its global network by welcoming new members, including the South African PRO Alliance, hosted strategic workshops in the Nordic and Balkan regions, and engaged directly with EU institutions on upcoming EPR legislation. Key achievements include advancing dialogue on harmonization, reporting, and governance of PROs, opposing national measures that could undermine producer responsibility, and advocating for clearer rules in eCommerce compliance. EXPRA closes 2025 with a larger, more connected membership and renewed commitment to supporting efficient and sustainable EPR systems worldwide.
EXPRA news
EXPRA Meeting with Commissioner Roswall, DG ENV, European Commission – 18 November 2025, Brussels
The EXPRA delegation met Commissioner Jessika Roswall and her DG ENV team in Brussels to discuss upcoming EU legislation and the pivotal role of EPR systems in supporting circularity. The meeting highlighted best practices from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and emphasized the importance of harmonization, efficiency, and eco-modulation to strengthen Europe’s recycling sector.
The Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance expands its network to South Africa
The Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (EXPRA) welcomes the PRO Alliance from South Africa as its newest member, marking the organisation’s first partnership in Sub-Saharan Africa. This collaboration strengthens EXPRA’s global network of 35 PROs across 32 countries, advancing sustainable, transparent, and socially inclusive recycling systems while fostering knowledge exchange and best practices worldwide.
EXPRA Nordic Members Workshop: Strengthening Collaboration and Sharing Best Practices
From 2–4 November, EXPRA’s Nordic Members Workshop in Oslo brought together EXPRA PROs from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland to share experiences, discuss EPR regulatory developments, and explore harmonised approaches. Key topics included producer definitions, reuse reporting, authorised representatives, and data-driven compliance solutions. The workshop reinforced over 20 years of Nordic collaboration in strengthening sustainable and efficient EPR systems across the region.
Joint Industry Statement on Slovakia’s Proposed Amendment to the Environmental Fund
The undersigned organisations strongly oppose a proposed amendment to Slovakia’s Environmental Fund Act that would allow the state to act as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO). Such a move would undermine the effectiveness of Slovakia’s EPR system, conflict with EU legislation, and risk jeopardising national and EU recycling targets. The organisations call on policymakers to preserve a transparent, effective, and producer-led EPR system aligned with the WFD and the PPWR.
EXPRA Balkan Workshop 2025: Strengthening Collaboration Across the Region
The EXPRA Balkan Members Workshop, held in Istanbul from 8–10 October and hosted by ÇEVKO, brought together EXPRA PROs from across the region for three days of collaboration and exchange. Participants shared best practices, discussed EPR policy and operational challenges, and reaffirmed the importance of transparent, well-governed producer responsibility systems. The workshop once again demonstrated the strength of regional cooperation in advancing effective EPR across Europe.
Closing the loopholes: A call for stronger EU rules for safer and fairer eCommerce
As online shopping becomes an integral part of everyday life in Europe, a growing number of products purchased by EU consumers are entering the market through online marketplaces hosted outside the EU. This booming cross-border trade has unlocked convenience and...
EXPRA Holds 2025 Autumn General Assembly, Reviewing Progress and Setting Priorities for 2026
On 2 December 2025, EXPRA brought together its members and partners for its Annual General Assembly, marking an important moment to reflect on a year of intense policy engagement and to look ahead to the evolving European circular economy landscape. Opening the...
EXPRA Joins the Advisory Board of the LIFE4EPR Project
EXPRA is a member of the Advisory Board of the LIFE4EPR project, an EU-funded initiative aimed at supporting greater alignment and harmonisation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes across Europe. LIFE4EPR seeks to address the fragmentation of EPR...
EXPRA Shares European Expertise on Product Stewardship in Australasia
EXPRA contributed European EPR expertise to a major Australasian webinar series on product stewardship, with Managing Director Joachim Quoden presenting the 10 Golden Rules to over 270 participants from Australia and New Zealand.
Upcoming events
Upcoming Events
Explore the complete EXPRA calendar here, featuring all upcoming events and key updates.
News updates
The Consumer Goods Forum Highlights Best Practices for EPR in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
The Consumer Goods Forum has published a new discussion paper outlining best practices for designing effective and socially inclusive EPR systems in low- and middle-income countries. The report strongly endorses centralised, producer-governed PROs, ring-fenced funding, eco-modulation, and public–private cooperation—principles that closely align with EXPRA’s long-standing approach. The findings reinforce a growing global consensus on how EPR can drive real circularity while supporting social inclusion.
EU Waste Management Still Falling Short: What the European Court of Auditors Reveals
A new report from the European Court of Auditors reveals that progress on waste prevention, reuse, and recycling in the EU remains uneven and too slow, putting circular economy targets at risk. Persistent gaps in implementation, weak enforcement, and mounting pressures on the recycling industry underline the urgency for stronger action. The findings reinforce the need for effective enforcement, market-stabilising measures, and coordinated support to ensure EU waste legislation delivers real results.
Environmental Omnibus: European Commission Proposes Major Simplification of Environmental Legislation
On 10 December 2025, the European Commission presented the Environmental Omnibus, a package of measures aimed at simplifying environmental legislation and reducing administrative burdens for producers. The proposals include a suspension of authorised representative obligations until 2035, streamlined EPR reporting requirements, and the repeal of SCIP database notifications. Together, these changes seek to reduce fragmentation while maintaining effective oversight and traceability across Member States.
UN Plastics Treaty at a Crossroads as Chair Steps Down and Pressure for Ambition Mounts
The chair of the stalled UN plastics treaty negotiations, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, stepped down amid growing controversy and uncertainty surrounding the future of the process. His resignation comes after months of criticism over the direction and governance of the...
Circular Economy Act Accelerates: Commission Lists CEA for Q3 2026 as Stakeholder Consultation Advances
The European Commission has placed the proposed Circular Economy Act (CEA) among its flagship legislative initiatives for 2026, scheduling the proposal for Q3 2026 in the 2026 Commission Work Programme. The CEA is intended to establish a stronger Single Market for...
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation PPWR: Key Official Information for Stakeholders
The EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force on 11 February 2025 and will apply from 12 August 2026, establishing harmonised European rules to reduce packaging waste, boost recyclability and expand reuse. The Regulation mandates recyclability by 2030, harmonised labelling and recycled content targets, and paves the way for future implementing acts to support industry and EPR compliance
EU Publishes Revised Waste Framework Directive: Mandatory Textile EPR and Food Waste Targets Enter into Force
The amended Waste Framework Directive (WFD) was officially published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 26 September 2025 and entered into force on 16 October 2025, delivering significant new requirements for textile waste management and food waste...
News from members
European Packaging PROs Deepen Cross-Border Cooperation to Simplify EPR Compliance
EXPRA Leading Producer Responsibility Organisations from Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are strengthening their cooperation to simplify reporting, improve data consistency and support more efficient EPR compliance across borders.
Verpact (The Netherlands) Publishes Updated Recycle Check Tools Aligned with EU Packaging Legislation
Verpact has released the 2026 update of its Recycle Check tools, reflecting new legislation, recycling innovations and developments in EU packaging policy, including alignment with the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
EKO-KOM Expands Multi-Commodity Waste Collection to Improve Recycling in Czech Municipalities
Municipalities in the Czech Republic are increasingly adopting multi-commodity collection of sorted waste — allowing several recyclable materials to be collected together — reducing administrative burden and supporting clearer recycling for residents. EKO-KOM is simplifying reporting requirements in its system to reflect this evolution.
Yukon (Canada) Launches First Territorial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Program for Packaging and Paper with Circular Materials
On November 1, 2025, Yukon became the first Canadian territory to implement a comprehensive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for household packaging and paper, marking a major milestone in Northern recycling policy. Circular Materials, a not‑for‑profit producer responsibility organization, will support producers in meeting their new regulatory obligations and advance recycling services across the territory.
Sustainability as Industrial Power: CONAI System Generates €3.8 Billion and 24,000 Jobs
Italy’s CONAI system continues to demonstrate how recycling drives both environmental and economic benefits. In 2024, CONAI generated €3.8 billion in value, contributed €2 billion to the national GDP, and supported more than 24,000 jobs along the recycling value chain — highlighting the strategic role of circular economy practices in boosting competitiveness.
Ecoembes Integrates AI with NTT DATA and Microsoft to Simplify Packaging Declarations
Ecoembes has launched an AI‑powered virtual assistant on its digital platform to support companies with their mandatory annual packaging declarations — significantly reducing processing time, resolving queries in real time and boosting compliance efficiency
ReSimple Advances Recycling in Chile with Innovative Digital Tools and VR Education
ReSimple is transforming waste management in Chile through digital innovation, integrating real-time monitoring, mobile apps, and virtual reality experiences to improve efficiency, transparency, and public engagement under the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (REP) framework.
