ACR+ and DSD organised the conference entitled “Towards a Green Circular Economy: EPR and its role for post-consumer plastics” on 29 September 2015 in Brussels.

Over the last decades, the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has played a central role and has proven to be an effective policy tool to foster the recovery of plastic waste and the eco-design of products and therefore support a more sustainable management of post-consumer plastics.

However, the development of a Circular Economy for post-consumer plastics is no easy task, as it requires changes throughout the whole life-cycle of products and a constructive dialogue of all actors involved.

The conference focused on the following questions:

• What is the role of consumers regarding sustainable management of plastics?
• What is the role of retailers, recyclers and producers?
• What are major barriers to the eco-design of plastics materials and products?
• How can high quality recycling be achieved?
• What is needed to boost the European market for secondary raw materials?
• Which political framework is required to fit post-consumer plastics into a Circular Economy?

In the context of the relaunch of the Circular Economy Package, the ACR+ / DSD conferencebrought together experts from industry, politics, NGOs and science to discuss these questions, present best-practice examples and elaborate on the potentials of EPR implementation and sustainable management of post-consumer plastics. 

PROGRAMME
You can download the programme here.

CONFERENCE REPORT
You can download the conference report here.

PRESENTATIONS
You will find here the presentation from all keynotes:

• Françoise Bonnet, ACR+: Circular Economy starts with citizens and consumers
• Peter Heydasch, DOW Europe: Recycling: Economy and Eco-Logic Acceleration
• Frank Böttcher, DKR: A new approach is needed - Getting market access through high quality recycling
• Dr. Helmut Maurer, DG ENV, European Commission: Making post-consumer plastics fit for circular economy

PHOTOS

Morning {gallery}2015_09_29/Morning{/gallery}

Afternoon {gallery}2015_09_29/Afternoon{/gallery}