This is how responsibility is distributed in the packaging ordinance
As a producer responsibility organisation, our operations are based on the ordinance on producer responsibility for packaging. As the largest producer responsibility organisation, we also have a responsibility to establish collection points for packaging waste from businesses across the country. Collection and recycling are financed through the packaging fees paid by affiliated producers.
The purpose of the ordinance
The main purpose of the packaging ordinance is to:
- reduce the amount of packaging and packaging waste
- producers must take responsibility for collecting and treating packaging waste – operationally or financially
- achieve the goals for material recycling
- reduce litter
To achieve this, several actors must cooperate and take responsibility for their respective roles in the value chain.
The producer's responsibility
All producers who release packaging on the Swedish market must be affiliated with an approved producer responsibility organisation. The producer responsibility organisation finances the collection, reception and recycling of all packaging materials from households and businesses.
You who have producer responsibility must:
- pay for the municipal collection of packaging from households, the reception of packaging from businesses and the recycling of packaging.
- contribute to achieving the national targets for material recycling rates for packaging.
- only provide packaging that can be reused or recycled.
- register as a producer with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
- report packaging volumes, at least quarterly.
- report to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, once a year.
- report in accordance with the Single-Use Plastics Directive once a year.
Our responsibility as a producer responsibility organisation
On behalf of our affiliated producers, we are responsible for ensuring that their packaging of all types of materials (paper, plastic, metal, glass, wood and other materials such as textiles, porcelain and others) is recycled, provided that it is designed for recycling. We also ensure reporting to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency for all our affiliated producers.
We are responsible for:
- That packaging waste is treated in accordance with applicable regulations.
- Effectively contributing to achieving the material recycling targets and the targets for reduced littering in the Packaging Ordinance.
- Working to ensure that affiliated producers increase the proportion of reusable packaging placed on the market and work to reduce the amount of packaging.
- Replacing the municipal collection of household packaging through the packaging fees paid by our affiliated producers.
- Establishing collection points for businesses’ packaging waste.
- Obtaining our share of collected material from Swedish municipalities.
The responsibility of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) runs and coordinates environmental work in Sweden, on behalf of the Swedish government. The EPA’s mission includes working based on the ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging. The EPA decides which producer responsibility organisations are approved.
The EPA must:
- Inform about producer responsibility.
- Exercise supervision and announce regulations, exceptions and exemptions.
- Decide on the compensation to the municipalities.
- Ensure that producer responsibility organisations, municipalities, market-driven systems, property owners and environmental organisations have an ongoing dialogue.
- Follow up the national recycling targets and report to the EU.
The municipalities' responsibility
Swedish municipalities are responsible for collecting packaging waste from households and co-located businesses. From 1 January 2027, curbside collection will be introduced for all households, for paper, plastic, glass and metal packaging. At the same time, municipalities must ensure that there are easily accessible collection points for bulky packaging. From 1 January 2026, the municipalities are responsible for collecting packaging materials in popular locations, such as squares and parks.
The municipalities’ responsibilities also include informing households and co-located businesses about source separation, how packaging waste can be prevented, and how they can contribute to increased material recycling.
They must also provide transfer stations where producer responsibility organisations will pick up their share of the collected material for transport to reception facilities and recycling facilities.
