Producer responsibility for electronics developed to support repair and reuse
This is being investigated in the new European DemoEPR project, which develops producer responsibility for electronic products to better support repair, reuse and material circulation.
Producer responsibility for electronics needs new solutions
Producer responsibility means that product manufacturers and importers are responsible for the costs of waste management of end-of-life products. The system has increased the recycling rates of electronic waste, but it still lacks attention to the whole life cycle of products. The goal of the DemoEPR project is to find new operating models that keep products in use longer and reduce environmental impacts.
"The repair, refurbishment and reuse of products do not yet receive sufficient support," says Petrus Kautto, Development manager at the Finnish Environment Institute.
Consumers benefit from the circular economy
"Our goal is to jointly develop solutions that work from both an environmental and market perspective. This can accelerate the transition towards a circular economy, where electronic products stay in use longer and their materials can be reused more efficiently," Kautto continues.
For consumers, this may mean better opportunities to repair, recycle and reuse electronic devices in the future.
International cooperation accelerates the circular economy
The DemoEPR project, which will run until 2030, brings together an exceptionally wide range of actors from all over Europe. The participants include companies, producer organisations, waste management experts, consumer organisations and top experts in research on the circular economy, business models, digital systems and environmental impacts. The project is coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute and funded by the European Union's Horizon programme.
Futher information
What is DemoEPR?
- DemoEPR is a research and development project funded by the EU's Horizon programme.
- The project supports longer product lifetimes, greater resource efficiency and more sustainable production and consumption patterns across Europe.
- The participants include companies, producer organisations, researchers and other experts from all over Europe.
- The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) coordinates the project.
- Project implementation: 2026–2030.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission (Horizon Europe). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.