Sweden to lead development of global EPR standard

IKEA is convening the European working group that is developing guidance on how an extended producer responsibility should be designed. It is now clear that the standard will become global and that the Swedish Standards Institute, SIS, will lead this potentially major impact work.

What is needed to overcome littering and the large amount and sometimes environmentally hazardous waste that we generate? An effective way to get companies to produce resource-efficient products without environmentally damaging substances, that are also easy to reuse and recycle, is to introduce an extended producer responsibility – EPR.

Packaging, recycled paper and batteries are three areas where EPR already exists in Sweden. Next in line is textiles. As Europe needs to increase its access to recycled raw materials, there is a plan to expand EPR to more categories.

Potentially major global impact

The design of each EPR scheme is determined by each product group's producer responsibility organization. A European standard that will provide guidance on what should be included and reported is under development. IKEA is convening the working group that, according to the plan, will have a standard proposal ready for consultation in 2026, and publication in 2027.

The ISO Secretariat for Circular Economy has voted in favor of the EPR standard becoming global. In accordance with the Vienna Agreement, it will be developed by CEN. This will be done under Swedish leadership.

– The Vienna Agreement aims to prevent duplication of work in projects that are common to CEN and ISO. It is very exciting that SIS will lead the development. The extended producer responsibility standard will apply in both Europe and the rest of the world, and can potentially have a great impact, says Laura Linnala at SIS.