If you sell products online to consumers in the EU, you must fulfill a legal obligation known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This means that businesses must take charge of the collection, management and recycling of waste generated by the products they place on the market. The obligation applies even if they are selling a small amount of goods and regardless of where they are based - and many sellers are unaware of this fact. To help them understand these rules, national EPR authorities in the Nordic and Baltic countries have launched an informative website.

EPR in the Nordic and Baltic countries covers packaging, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, single-use plastic products, fishing gear containing plastic, vehicles and beverage containers. There are also additional country-specific product groups, such as agricultural plastics in Estonia and paper and paper products in Finland. Future additions to EPR regulations at EU level will include textiles, shoes, pharmaceutical products and cosmetics.

"Many online sellers don’t realise that selling even small amounts of products covered by EPR regulations - such as any packaged goods - to consumers makes them responsible for waste management in the destination country. This lack of awareness leads to unfair costs for companies that already follow the rules”, says Head of Group, EPR Mika Heinonen from the Finnish Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.

National authorities in this region are working closely together to make sure that companies take care of their EPR obligations. If a company intentionally fails to comply despite being informed of its obligations, it may face consequences.

For more information on EPR compliance and how to fulfill your obligations, visit this website.