Extended Producer Responsibility {EPR}

Extended Producer Responsibility, also known as EPR, is a term that refers to the approach that holds brands accountable for the entire lifecycle of their textile products, including collection, sorting, repair, reuse, and recycling of post-consumer waste. 

EPR is essential in the creation of a comprehensive circular economy, as it is a way to measure sustainability actions, and ensures that producers take financial and operational responsibility for the environmental impact of their products.  

Key Aspects of EPR in the Fashion Industry: 

Shifting end-of-life product management responsibility: Instead of relying on the public sector or consumers to be financially and/or physically responsible for the aftercare of products, producers will take on that responsibility. This means that producers will hold the sole responsibility for overseeing or funding the collection, recycling, or proper disposal of products and packaging. Shifting this responsibility incentivizes producers to work towards designing products and packaging that are more durable, sustainable, and recyclable. 

Financial Responsibility: Under EPR, producers must contribute financially to the systems that handle the waste of their products. This can include paying fees into a national or regional Producer Responsibility Organizations (PRO), which is a nonprofit entity established by producers to implement EPR laws. These organizations can manage the collection, sorting, recycling, and consumer education.