EU circular economy needs centralized EPR registration, says industry group
Key takeaways
- The PRO Circularity Alliance advocates for a centralized EU EPR registration system to reduce the administrative burden.
- A unified register would cut red tape, lower compliance costs, and strengthen data transparency across Europe.
- The alliance emphasizes the need for smarter regulation and practical solutions to harmonize current fragmented systems.
The PRO Circularity Alliance has called for a harmonized EU EPR reporting and registration system, highlighting that having multiple national registers creates unnecessary administrative burden and hinders European market efficiency.
The PRO Circularity Alliance represents the interests of PROs across all waste streams in Europe.
In a position paper, the collaboration stresses that EU harmonization matters “now more than ever,” detailing that EPR registration is an example of where “political ambition and regulatory reality diverge.”
“In the context of the upcoming Circular Economy Act, the PRO Circularity Alliance calls for a structured policy discussion on a Central European EPR Register and stands ready to actively contribute practical expertise to its development,” says the organization.
The industry alliance outlines how a central European register could reduce administrative burden and cost, lower barriers to compliance, strengthen the prevention of free riding, and improve data quality and transparency across Europe.
A central European EPR register is a “pragmatic and high-impact solution” to tackle fragmented EPR registers, which are often accompanied by splintered waste streams, says the PRO Circularity Alliance.
Cutting the red tape
The PRO Circularity Alliance further notes that, as a result of unharmonized EPR systems, producers must register separately across multiple national systems with different interfaces and information requirements.
The organization advocates for a single registration point for EU producers and a coordinated structure for data submission.According to the organization, national authorities must also create separate IT systems, resulting in numerous EU registers that each require funding for development and maintenance, despite sharing similar technical needs.
“In recent months, the competitiveness of the European economy and the resilience of the Single Market have become central themes in EU policy debates,” shares the industry alliance.
“Calls for fewer administrative obstacles, smarter regulation, and better implementation of existing rules are now firmly part of the political agenda. Yet, while these objectives are widely shared, concrete instruments to deliver them often remain vague.”
Smart EPR implementation
The organization advocates for a single point of registration for producers in the EU, as well as a coordinated structure, layout, and data submission formats.
Such a single register is said to support environmental objectives, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen compliance.
The PRO Circularity Alliance adds: “The industry is not calling for deregulation, but for better, smarter implementation. Producers and PROs are directly confronted with the operational reality of EPR systems on a daily basis. They understand where complexity adds value — and where it does not.”
“The industry stands ready to contribute practical expertise, support the design of workable solutions, and engage constructively in implementation discussions.”
