Sustainable development is the goal that many countries and businesses are aiming for. The EPR model serves as a tool for promoting producer responsibility. So, what is EPR? Let’s find out more with Minh Sang Packaging in the article below.
Danh Mục
What is EPR?
EPR stands for Extended Producer Responsibility, which is essentially an environmental policy that forces firms to be accountable for the manufacture, sale, and disposal of their products after they become garbage.
EPR mandates manufacturers to collect, categorize, process, recycle, or properly dispose of waste. This obligation helps to reduce environmental contamination. Simultaneously, it promotes resource reuse and the circular economy.
In other words, EPR is the expansion of a company’s obligation at all stages: from manufacturing to the final stage of the product, everything must be handled properly so that it does not affect the environment.
What is the purpose of the EPR program?
The EPR program was designed for several goals, which are as follows:
Reduce waste
The primary goal of this initiative is to assist reduce waste from old items. The manufacturer is responsible for collecting, processing, and recycling to reduce environmental effect. Furthermore, it decreases the quantity of garbage transferred to landfills and the negative effects on the environment.
The EPR policy places responsibilities on manufacturers, importers, and sellers. They must be responsible for collecting, processing, and recycling obsolete items. This puts significant pressure on firms to be responsible in delivering environmentally friendly products.
Encourage the use of recyclable garbage
The application of this policy requires manufacturers to comply with the regulations. The collection, cleaning, and recycling of discarded items will result in a supply of recycled resources, this promotes the usage of recycled items, hence lowering the quantity of resources required to generate new products.
Creating strong business opportunities
This scheme will undoubtedly provide firms with new opportunities. Because the usage of items that are both safe for humans and environmentally beneficial is becoming increasingly popular. Furthermore, this program provides a commercial opportunity for business goods in the areas of collecting, processing, and recycling unwanted items.
Promoting long-term development
The EPR program contributes significantly to the promotion and development of sustainability by minimizing the environmental effect of production and consumption, so helping to safeguard natural resources for future generations. Implementing the program also contributes to increased corporate social responsibility and sustainable economic development.
Legal restrictions for EPR
EPR issues are governed in the Law on Environmental Protection 2005, Chapter VIII, and the Law on Environmental Protection 2014, Chapter IX. These regulations provide precise recommendations for developing and executing EPRR in practice, however the outcomes have been quite limited.
As a result, the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 includes more precise revisions and amendments to EPR. Article 54, in particular, states that enterprises and people creating and importing garbage are responsible for recycling it. Article 55 clearly states that organizations or manufacturers are responsible for garbage collection and treatment.
These provisions are fully outlined in Chapter VI of Decree No. 08/2022/ND-TTg. Specifically, Articles 77–82 of the Decree explicitly clarify the contents of producers’ responsibilities for waste recycling. Articles 83 to 85 of the Decree contain detailed regulations on importers’ or manufacturers’ responsibility for waste collection and treatment, including the subjects that must be implemented, the financial contribution level, the implementation of support for waste treatment activities, and the implementation sequence.
What are the challenges in implementing the EPR program?
EPR is a program with significant environmental benefits, but its execution confronts some problems, such as:
- Cost: Implementing this program always needs a significant investment, resulting in a rise in product pricing.
- Management: To manage this program, stringent and successful implementation is required, and firms must establish clear criteria to guarantee that goods are gathered and processed appropriately.
- Capability: In order to participate in this program, firms must have financial, managerial, and technological capability.
- Many parties must work together to accomplish this initiative, including producers, governments, and consumers. Cooperation from all stakeholders will assist to boost the program’s efficacy and save expenses.
Conclusion
Everyone now understands what EPR is thanks to the information provided above. This is not only an unavoidable tendency, but also a critical answer for reducing waste and moving toward sustainable growth. Implementing EPR demands not only the dedication of enterprises, but also the assistance of management agencies and customers.
