EPR extended producer responsibility

OECD, The State of Play on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Opportunities and Challenges, June (2014), http //www.oecd.org/environmenVwaste/Global%20Eorum%20Tokyo%20Issues%20 Paper%2030-5-2014.pdf, accessed 1 03/14... 

Integrated and Environmental Management Systems (ie. ISO 14000, EM AS, EFQM), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Product Development Process (PDP), etc. 

Many countries have applied the concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR) to disposal of materials, including plastics. Under this philosophy, the manufacturer of a product (including packaging) is responsible for the ultimate recycling and/or disposal of that product. Government sets recycling requirements but leaves it to industry to formulate and manage the systems required to meet those requirements. 

The concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR) has been steadily evolving owing to the growing environmental concerns related to product use and end-of-life issues. That is, producers are made responsible for environmental effects extending over the entire product cycle. The concept is often implemented through product take-back programs. Producers are not likely to be involved in the actual physical collection of discarded items, a task that will be handled by a third party [14]. 

Several other countries around the world have also adopted mandatory extended product (or producer) responsibility (EPR). Examples include Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Brazil, and Peru. 

Enviromnent Canada, Extended Producer Responsibility Stewardship, http //www.ec.gc.ca/ epr/inventory/en/index.cfm. 

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