Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy principle that makes manufacturers financially and operationally responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, especially the take-back, recycling, and final disposal stages. By internalising end-of-life costs, EPR incentivises producers to design for durability, repairability, and recyclability. It is implemented through schemes such as packaging levies, electronic-waste recovery obligations, and deposit-return systems.
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- EPR schemes commonly cover packaging, batteries, vehicles, and electronic equipment, requiring producers to fund collection and recycling infrastructure or join collective compliance organisations. The economic signal is designed to drive eco-design, but effectiveness depends on enforcement, accurate fee modulation, and prevention of free-riding by non-registered producers.