The OECD defines Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a market-based instrument used to promote total life cycle environmental improvements of product systems by extending the responsibilities of the manufacturer of the product to various parts of the product’s life cycle, and especially to the take-back, recovery and final disposal of the product. This financial responsibility comes in the form of a levy that is integrated into the market price of the product.

When it comes to textiles, the European Commission is now considering EPR as a regulatory measure to promote sustainable textiles and treatment of textile waste in accordance with the waste hierarchy. At Member State level, France is the only EU country with an EPR scheme for textiles. The Netherlands has called for an EU-wide obligation for EPR for textiles, and Sweden has set in motion plans to introduce an EPR for textiles from 1 January 2022. Outside the EU, the UK government has committed to review and consult on an EPR for textiles in England.

It remains to be seen whether setting up EPR schemes will become mandatory for all EU Member States and whether criteria for EPR schemes for textiles will be harmonised or whether diverging national approaches to EPR will be favoured.

This #EUCircularTalk will bring together a panel of expert stakeholders to discuss the ongoing developments around setting EPR schemes for textiles. The event is designed for any person who has an interest in this topic as well as for those willing to learn more.

Draft programme

13:00 - 13:10 Welcome and opening remarks

• Sofie Bouteligier - OVAM
• Emily Macintosh - EEB
• Cillian Lohan - EESC Vice-President

13:10 - 14:10 Panel discussions each followed by reactions from the European Commission representative

Panel 1 - What issues could EPR schemes for textiles help solve?

• Mathieu Rama - Senior Policy officer, RREUSE
• Jelmer Vierstra - Senior Program Leader Circular Economy, Natuur & Milieu
• Myriam Tryjefaczka - Director Sustainability and Public Affairs,Tarkett France, EMEA

Panel 2 - Experience and expectations: setting EPR for textiles

• Cécile Fèvre - French ministry of ecological transition - waste prevention and EPR
• Femke den Hartog - SMEunited
• Jo Van Landeghem - Quality, Safety and Sustainability Officer, Circletex
• Baptiste Carriere-Pradal - Chair of the Policy Hub, Policy Hub
• Martin Böschen - Vice-President of EuRIC Textiles
• Stina Wallström - Director of Regulatory Affairs, IKEA Range and Supply

14:10 - 14:45 Discussions

14:45 - 15:00 Closing remarks & wrap-up

• Sofie Bouteligier - OVAM
• Emily Macintosh - EEB