GlobalPSC News – July 2019
Paris Forum Recap
Having attracted 250 attendees from 30 countries, the GlobalPSC’s second International Stewardship Forum is certainly an event to remember!
Day 1 of the Paris Forum featured a discussion of the role of extended producer responsibility (EPR) by ‘father of EPR’ Thomas Lindhqvist of Sweden’s Lünd University and Peter Börkey, head of the OECD’s Environment Directorate, as well as an ‘around the world’ overview of product stewardship and EPR programs by government representatives and NGOs.
Extent and influence of EPR approaches were on display, with additional sessions focusing on EPR as a bridge between health and the environment, EPR as a positive business for companies and EPR’s role in the new plastic economy.
Networking, facilitated introductions and opportunities for casual social interaction are integral to the GlobalPSC’s activities and events. In addition to social events organised by our French partners DASTRI, we were pleased to host a special Paris get-together for GlobalPSC members and friends, old and new.
Day 2 opened with EPR as a driver for circular economy, featuring Kestutis Sadauskas, the European Commission’s Director – Green Economy.
Cost and performance aspects of EPR featured heavily on Day 2, with sessions on EPR’s achievements and the economic and legal drivers of performance. Chris van Rossem of the Canadian Stewardship Services Alliance led a panel on the impact of fee modularity, an issue regularly raised by stakeholders as a key concern.
Need for a level playing field and the impact of free riders were hot topics for Day 2 across a broad range of products.
Efforts by the OECD, WEEE Forum, EXPRA and Eucolight to address online free riders were of particular interest.
The role of the informal sector, especially in Latin America, was a hot topic for debate in discussions led by Thomas Lindhqvist and Chile’s Rodrigo Leiva Neumann of Valoryza.
Day 2 also featured other practical factors that affect EPR performance, such as communication, governance and competition.
The conclusion of Day 2 highlighted the transition from historical and existing practices to meet current and future needs, via climate change activist Hugo Veil and Jacques Vernier, the Chair of France’s EPR Commission and a significant contributor to the French Roadmap for the Circular Economy.
To help build upon the Forum, select speakers and key stakeholders were invited to modified Chatham House discussions at the stunning offices of the French Environment Ministry. The facilitated discussions identified barriers and opportunities for EPR, as well as strategies for moving forward.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone that participated in the Paris Forum and helped to make the Forum possible. Special thanks go to DASTRI, the French ministries for health and environment (for their support, input and venues), sponsors and GlobalPSC Board members. All played essential roles in delivering the Paris Forum and made an incredible array of venues and social events possible.
The GlobalPSC is already considering future Forums’ locations and formats. Be sure to give us input and to follow us as we continue to advance these important discussions and networking opportunities.
Events Calendar
7-9 October 2019 – The 29th ISWA World Congress. Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall, Bilbao, Spain.
5-7 November 2019 – Conference on Canadian Stewardship. Parq Vancouver, Vancouver, Canada.
26-28 November 2019 – International Recycling Forum. Wiesbaden, Germany.
10-11 December 2019 – Plastic: Design for Sustainability. Berlin, Germany.
