legislate for the circular economy
TRANSCRIPT
Legislating for the
Circular Economy –
Stimulating and
Rewarding
Sustainable Design
Simon Hann
Photo Bryan Allison
• Increase in incineration
over landfill increases
GHG emissions
• Increasing concern about
impacts on marine
environment
• Increasing concern about
resource scarcity
• Increasing focus on
resource efficiency to
reduce climate change
Whydoes itmatter?
million
microplastics
released into the
marine environment
globally per year
tonnes
*Polyethylene 0.5mm dia
Trillion
released into the
marine environment
globally per year
particles*
plastic bottles*
77Enough to
make
*@13g each
billion
EPR
Producers are
responsible for
the cost of
managing their
products once
they become
waste.
Taxpayer Consumer
10%Net System
costs coverage
by producers’
fees in the UK
for packaging
Source: European Commission
Source: European Commission
Cost effectiveness of EPR schemes for packaging
435kg/pp/yr
311
140
56
Total Waste
Product Waste
EPR Coverage
EPR SeparateCollection
Current EPR in European Cities
Source: Zero Waste Europe
The
Business
Case
Business as Usual
Best Worst
Cost C
overa
ge
10%
100%
Best Worst
Weight Based EPRC
ost C
overa
ge
10%
100%
Best Worst
Best Worst
Environmental Indicator Based EPRF
ee p
er
unit s
old
Best Worst
• promotion of upstream
design changes
• reduction of the impacts of
end-of-life management
• downstream improvements
of collection and recycling
infrastructure
• high re-utilisation of
products, components and
materials.
Results in…
Fe
e p
er
Un
it S
old
Time
EPR Scheme
Announced
EPR Scheme
Implemented
Competitive
Advantage
Best
Worst
Fe
e p
er
Un
it S
old
Time
EPR Scheme
Announced
EPR Scheme
Implemented
Competitive
Advantage
Best
Worst
• be designed to stimulate
product innovation
• be implemented soon to
reward innovators
• be an evolving policy to
encourage continued
improvement
EPRshould…
• look for similarly minded
companies in their sector
• engage in the EPR debate
in a positive way
• look at EPR as a chance
to gain a competitive
advantage
• not just look at design,
but also product take-
back/incentivisation
Innovatorsshould…
