NPA: ”We want to give the producers a stronger voice”

Recently, the biggest reform since the producer responsibility was introduced was launched. All producers must now be affiliated to a producer responsibility organisation approved by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, and Sweden’s municipalities have taken over the responsibility for the collection of household packaging. But it does not stop with these comprehensive changes.

– Far from all parts of the new regulation have been implemented, the collection system must be greatly expanded, recycling increased and littering reduced, says Henrik Nilsson. In addition, the legislation at EU level is already being tightened in the near future.

During the spring and summer of 2024, final negotiations are underway in the EU regarding the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, PPWR. The goal is to reduce the amount of packaging waste and ensure that all packaging on the European market can either be reused or recycled.

– In most respects, we are prepared for PPWR, and we especially hope to see greater uniformity among member states going forward, says Henrik Nilsson, emphasizing the importance of the EXPRA membership for keeping up to date on what is happening in the political sphere at the European level.

The Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance, EXPRA, is a lobbying and networking organisation for non-profit producer responsibility organisations in Europe.

– Through EXPRA, we get the opportunity to influence legislators and others, but also an important exchange of experience.

Apart from all that is happening internationally, what domestic issues are on the agenda right now, where NPA can be an important voice?
– There are, of course, several, but I want to raise the issue of competitive neutrality and a functioning supervision of producers to deal with the so-called free-rider problem.

What is meant by free rider and why is it problematic?
– A free-rider pays no packaging fee despite a stated producer responsibility and thus free-rides on other producers who participate and finance the collection and recycling. This creates a distorted competition and leads to higher packaging fees. This requires significantly tougher supervision than what we have seen so far. If some are allowed to evade compliance with the law, there is an obvious risk of eroding producer responsibility over time. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the supervisory authority, but ultimately, it is a political responsibility to ensure that there are conditions in place to enforce compliance with laws and regulations.

What role can NPA play regarding the issue of competitive neutrality?
– Although this is a matter between the authority and the government, we can assist the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency with information on how it affects the conditions for achieving the goals and objectives of the regulation. We can also act as opinion leaders, thereby being a unifying force for producers. In the end, it’s about ensuring a well-functioning producer responsibility.

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The article is part of NPA Magasin