Ep 63: A circular economy for packaging: Extended Producer Responsibility

In a circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature., we need dedicated, ongoing, and sufficient funding for the collection, sorting, and recycling of packaging – otherwise the economics simply do not stack up – it costs more to do than the money it makes. That’s where Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) comes in. In this episode, the Foundation's Maya Adams and Ambrogio Miserocchi introduce the concept of EPR and how it works in a circular economy. We'll then hear from guests Matthew Demorais, Corporate Affairs Director at Unilever; Dr. Maarten Dubois, Project Lead Circular Economy at OECD; Guillermo González, Head of Circular Economy Office, Ministry of the Environment, Chile, and Sara Wingstrand, Programme Manager, New Plastics Economy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Together they reflect on the watershed momentum around EPR for packaging as an essential part of a circular economy.