WRAP has provided guidance and expertise relating to existing and potential EPR systems across various countries, regions, and territories, and for a variety of problematic waste streams, for stakeholders across the EPR value chain.
Below is an overview of some of our recent EPR projects.
United States of America & Europe
Packaging EPR producer training workshop
WRAP delivered a packaging EPR training workshop for producers. The workshop discussed recent packaging EPR developments in USA, EU & UK, as well as the divergencies between the EPR systems in each of the three regions and how producers are expected to comply with the requirements in practice. The event was held virtually to facilitate workshop attendance from delegates across USA & Europe. Appreciatively funded by the Enhesa organisation.
Australia
Establishment of national textiles stewardship scheme
Australians buy on average 56 items of clothing a year and manufacture/import over 1.4 billion units of new clothing every year. 200,000 tonnes of clothing goes to landfill each year.
The Australian Government added clothing textiles to the Federal Minister’s priority list for product stewardship, with industry required to take action to reduce clothing sent to landfill. MP Tanya Plibersek issued a clear directive that if a stewardship scheme is not taken up enough by industry, it will be formally regulated by the Australian Government.
WRAP worked extensively with the Australian Fashion Council, Charitable Recycling Australia, Queensland University of Technology, and Sustainable Resource Use to establish a National Stewardship Scheme for clothing in Australia. The scheme requires stewards to charge a levy of four-cent per garment to incentivise clothing design that is more durable and recyclable, as well as helping to fund the expansion of textiles collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure. The Seamless stewardship scheme that was co-created by WRAP aims to create a circular clothing industry by 2030.
Chile
National EPR opportunities, barriers, and implementation guidance
Chile has targets to, by 2025, ensure that 100% of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable and to ensure that one-third of plastic packaging is effectively reused, recycled, or composited.
WRAP has worked with EPR stakeholders in Chile, including Circula el Plástico, to understand the key barriers and opportunities associated to national EPR systems and to provide guidance on how those barriers and opportunities could be overcome/leveraged. The work included the coordination of workshops that facilitated EPR best practice knowledge exchanges between nations around the world.
Europe
Review of impacts that particular EPR policies have in practice to support policymakers with EPR implementation
One of the targets of the European Plastics Pact was to increase collection, sorting, and recycling capacity by >25% and reach a level that corresponds to market demand for recycled plastics. WRAP produced a deliverable to support this target which assisted policymakers and businesses when considering EPR policies, partly by helping them to understand the how different EPR policies may impact efforts to increase the recycling of plastics in Europe.
Ghana
Guidance on national EPR strategy reports to facilitate the spearheading of legislation to tackle plastic pollution
Ghana is estimated to produce 840,000 tonnes of plastic annually. According to the World Economic Forum, out of the 840,000 tonnes generated, only a meagre 9.5% is collected for recycling.
WRAP reviewed and commented on EPR strategy reports prepared by consultants for Ghana’s National Plastic Action Partnership. Now, the Ministry of the Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) in Ghana is spearheading an initiative to introduce legislation that will take significant steps to combat plastic pollution. The new legislation will make EPR mandatory in Ghana.
India
National EPR opportunities, barriers, and implementation guidance
India only recycles 30% of the 3.4 million tonnes of plastic waste that it generates per year. WRAP has worked with EPR stakeholders in India, including the India Plastics Pact, to understand the key barriers and opportunities associated to national EPR systems and to provide guidance on how those barriers and opportunities could be overcome/leveraged. The work included the coordination of workshops that facilitated EPR best practice knowledge exchanges between nations around the world.
Norway
Design and delivery of stakeholder workshops to discuss the common challenges and opportunities linked to EPR systems across various continents
Funded by the Norwegian Retailers Environment Fund, WRAP held a series of EPR workshop with stakeholders across various geographies, including South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, to discuss the common challenges and opportunities linked to EPR systems. WRAP coordinated insight and experience sharing amongst EPR stakeholders across the globe. Ultimately, the information gleaned on EPR best practices around the world helps individual nations to make their local EPR systems more efficient and effective.
Funded by the Norwegian Retailers Environment Fund, WRAP held a series of EPR workshop with stakeholders across various geographies, including South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, to discuss the common challenges and opportunities linked to EPR systems. WRAP coordinated insight and experience sharing amongst EPR stakeholders across the globe. Ultimately, the information gleaned on EPR best practices around the world helps individual nations to make their local EPR systems more efficient and effective.
Senegal
Landscape review of EPR best practices in Africa
In Senegal, more than 250,000 tons of plastic are discarded each year, while only 30,000 tons are recycled. WRAP delivered a summary of EPR in Africa and EPR best practices to the Senegal’s Haskè Council. This fed into the Council’s establishment of The Alliance for Advancing Recycling, Awareness and Livelihoods (TAARAL) for plastics in Senegal.
South Africa
Design and delivery of workshop on best practices for Plastics EPR
South Africa has a target to ensure that 70% of plastic packaging is effectively recycled. Organised by the World Economic Forum and in collaboration with two South African Ministries (Department of Forestry, Fisheries, & Environment + Department for Trade, Industry, & Competition), WRAP delivered a session on EPR for the plastics waste stream. Delivered at a Trade & Circular Economy workshop, WRAP’s session highlighted EPR best practices and the advantages and disadvantages of different producer definitions.
WRAP has also worked with other EPR stakeholders in South Africa, including the South African Plastics Pact, to understand the key barriers and opportunities associated to national EPR systems and to provide guidance on how those barriers and opportunities could be overcome/leveraged. The work included the coordination of workshops that facilitated EPR best practice knowledge exchanges between nations around the world.
United Kingdom
WRAP has completed numerous amounts of EPR projects in the UK. A few examples of WRAP’s UK EPR experience are summarised below.
EPR governance
WRAP’s Chair, Sebastian Munden, is the Independent Chair of the UK Packaging EPR Scheme Administrator (SA) Steering Group. The purpose of the SA Steering Group is to make recommendations to support the implementation of the packaging EPR system in the UK.
WRAP’s Head of EPR, Jordan Girling, is a member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management's SEG (Strategic Expert Group) for Producer Responsibility. Jordan provides technical expertise to CIWM and sector stakeholders on existing and potential Producer Responsibility frameworks and legislation for various waste streams in the UK.
Textiles EPR policy recommendations
WRAP published two reports on behalf of the UK Government that encompass the results of extensive research and stakeholder engagements to inform WRAP’s textiles EPR recommendation to the UK Government. The two reports (Textiles Policy Options and the supporting Cost Benefits Analysis) document a shortlist of policy options, including their effectiveness as standalone polices or in support of other options on the list.
Application of eco-modulated EPR fees
WRAP has completed various projects for the UK Government, including stakeholder consultation support, on how to apply the concept of eco-modulated EPR fees in practice. The concept of eco-modulated EPR fees requires producers that place harder-to-recycle products/packaging on the market to pay higher EPR fees and producers that place easier-to-recycle products/packaging on the market to pay lower EPR fees.
A particular project had an aim to produce a report covering three main areas: (1) options to expand packaging categories for producer reporting, (2) options for specific packaging materials that may benefit from the application of the eco-modulation concept, and (3) review of potential incentives for material switching and any perverse consequences that might arises.
EPR labelling requirements
WRAP completed a project with the UK policymaker to support them with the design and implementation of packaging EPR labelling requirements. The UK Government’s 2024 packaging EPR regulations set out requirements for on-pack recycling labelling. WRAP provided research and insights to support the UK Government with on-pack labelling requirements. Subsequently, WRAP supported with the delivery of comprehensive packaging EPR labelling guidance documents.
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