This document discusses extended producer responsibility (EPR), which shifts responsibility for end-of-life products upstream to producers. EPR aims to incentivize producers to design products with the environment in mind. The document outlines EPR goals, policy instruments like take-back and recycling targets, and how they apply across a product's life cycle. It summarizes 2001 OECD guidance on EPR and trends since like increased adoption and emerging issues. The objectives of this Global Forum are to take stock of recent EPR experiences, identify challenges, and begin updating guidance to address waste prevention and eco-design.

1. EXTENDED PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY:
OVERVIEW, RECENT TRENDS AND FORUM OBJECTIVES
Shardul Agrawala
Head, Environment and Economy Integration Division
OECD Environment Directorate

2. Outline
• Defining Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
• Goals, policy instruments and the product life cycle
• 2001 OECD Policy Guidance
• Trends since 2001: Adoption, literature, emerging issues
• Key issues and objectives of the Global Forum

3. Two related features:
• shifting of responsibility upstream to the
producer and away from municipalities
• to provide incentives to producers to
incorporate environmental considerations
in the design of their products.
Defining Extended Producer Responsibility
..an environmental policy approach in which a producer’s
responsibility, physical and/or financial …is extended to
the post-consumer stage of a product’s life cycle

4. EPR Goals
• Source reduction
• Waste prevention
• Design for environment
• Closure of material loops
(increased recycling)

5. Policy Instruments
 Take-back with recycling targets
 Economic Instruments
 Deposit/refund
 Advance disposal fees
 Virgin material taxes
 Upstream combined tax and subsidy
 Recycling content standards

6. EPR policy instruments in product cycle
Virgin
material
Extraction
Primary
production
Consumption
Recycled
goods
Waste
Manufacturing
Virgin Materials
Tax
Recycling content
standards
Deposit/refund
ADF
UCTS
Take-back

7.  Definition, goals, framework conditions
 Policy instruments, complementary policies
 Roles and responsibilities
 Trade and competition aspects
 Free riding and orphan products
2001 OECD Guidance Manual

8. Recent Trends in EPR adoption
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Numberofpoliciesadopted
Year
Cumulative EPR adoption

9. Extended Producer Responsibility by
product type and instrument
Packaging
17%
Electronics
35%
Vehicles/auto
batteries
12%
Tires
18%
Other
18%
EPR by product type
Take-back
70%
Deposit/Refund
11%
ADF
17%
Other
2%
EPR by policy

10.  Great deal of information on impact of EPR
on recycling rates.
 Not enough on cost-effectiveness
 Not enough known about the potential to
address waste prevention through EPR
 Relatively few EPR systems oriented
towards incentivising eco-design
Recent trends and some open issues

11.  Significant additional experience since 2001:
o More product groups (e.g furniture, textiles)
o More diverse approaches (e.g recycling certificates)
o More information on environmental effectiveness and on
competition issues
o Adoption in more countries, including emerging economies
Further rationale for update of Guidance

12.  Literature review and typology of EPR schemes
 Case studies :
Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,
France, Japan, Korea, Slovakia, United States, and
building on EU studies
 Views exchanged here at the Global Forum in Tokyo
Financial support from Japan and EU
12
Towards updating policy guidance

13.  Take stock of recent experience
 Identify key challenges in design and
implementation
 Identify measures to meet these challenges
 Begin to identify key areas where guidance can
be developed
Global Forum Objectives

14. Day 1
• Session 1 – Scene setting
• Session 2 – Challenges and approaches in OECD countries
• Session 3 – Challenges and approaches in emerging economies
Day 2
• Session 4 – Towards guidance for policy makers
– 4 break-out groups
• Feedback and wrap-up
Day 3
• Morning: Moving forward – Focus on Asia
• Afternoon: Site visits
Global Forum Agenda

15. www.oecd.org/env/waste
www.oecd.org/env/policies
www.oecd.org/env/taxes
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Further information