{"id":3536,"date":"2026-01-19T10:49:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T10:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nazena.com\/?p=3536"},"modified":"2026-07-20T11:46:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T09:46:36","slug":"extended-producer-responsibility-epr-for-textiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nazena.com\/en\/extended-producer-responsibility-epr-for-textiles\/","title":{"rendered":"Extended Producer Responsibility: EPR for textiles"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_margin=”-22px|||||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”|9px||-1px||” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” min_height=”5633.1px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” min_height=”5573.1px” custom_padding=”0px|||||”]\n

What is <\/span>Extended Producer Responsibility<\/b>, also known by the acronym <\/span>EPR<\/b>?<\/span><\/p>\n

It was the year <\/span>1990<\/b> and the Swedish academic <\/span>Thomas Lindhqvist<\/b>, who first introduced this concept, defined it as an \u201c<\/span>environmental protection strategy<\/b> [\u2026] that makes <\/span>the producer of the product responsible for the entire life cycle<\/b> of the product itself and especially for its take-back, recycling and final disposal\u201d. In other words, it is a notion that gives the producer <\/span>financial and operational responsibility for the waste produced<\/b>, requiring him to take care of its collection, sorting and treatment for recycling or re-use.<\/span><\/p>\n

The direct consequence of this responsibility is the need for forward-looking and smart <\/span>design<\/b> that considers the environmental impact of the product at every stage<\/b>, even and especially at the so-called <\/span>\u2018end-of-life\u2019<\/b> stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extended Producer Responsibility: legislation<\/b><\/h2>\n

Over the last two decades, the concept of <\/span>EPR<\/b> has become <\/span>one of the European legislator\u2019s main tools for managing many streams of waste in Europe<\/b>. In particular, 2018 saw the enactment of <\/span>Directives (EU) 2018\/851 and 2018\/852<\/b><\/a>, two of the four <\/span>pillars of the European Circular Economy Package<\/b>, which aims to change the traditional linear \u2018buy, use, consume and throw away\u2019 model of the economy to a more sustainable model in which waste becomes raw material and generates new value on the market.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common goals therefore for all member states, but it is the governments of each country that have to adapt them to specific national contexts, choosing between <\/span>different implementation systems<\/b>. Some <\/span>examples<\/b>?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Francia<\/p>\n

France and Germany: examples of EPR systems<\/b><\/h3>\n

The best examples are currently to be found <\/span>in France and Germany<\/b> where, <\/span>as of January 2022<\/b>, marketplaces are legally obliged to verify the compliance of the <\/span>EPR registration number of products traded on national soil<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But <\/span>what is an EPR number<\/b> and <\/span>which products categories<\/b> are subject to this regulation?<\/span><\/p>\n

An EPR registration number is a <\/span>unique identification number (UIN)<\/b> that is given <\/span>to a product that meets all the requirements in force<\/b> for its category in the reference country. Requirements and categories vary from State to State and therefore there is no single EPR number for the European Union. This means that <\/span>if we want to manufacture, sell or import a product in several countries, we will have to register our product in all the markets<\/b> we are interested in, otherwise we will not be able to market it (or face a heavy penalty!).<\/span><\/p>\n

As regards the <\/span>product categories<\/b>, they also change from one country to another: here are those for which it is currently mandatory to have an EPR number in France and Germany.<\/span><\/p>\n

EPR product categories in France<\/b><\/h4>\n