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An Exploratory Study for an International Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging Waste: Perspectives from European and Asian Key Stakeholders

Adimahavira, Ariel LU (2024) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEM01 20241
The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Abstract
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy principle commonly used to manage plastic packaging waste in which the producer is taking a major role. The current discussions reached a point that discusses the necessity of an international EPR, which could extend the producer’s responsibility outside of its national boundary. However, the discussions are lacking those that involve multiple stakeholders’ perspectives. Hence, this thesis aims to learn and understand the perspectives of governments and plastic producers as key stakeholders of EPR to address two main issues: drivers and barriers in the formulation and implementation of an international EPR for plastic packaging waste as well as definition of producers and their range of... (More)
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy principle commonly used to manage plastic packaging waste in which the producer is taking a major role. The current discussions reached a point that discusses the necessity of an international EPR, which could extend the producer’s responsibility outside of its national boundary. However, the discussions are lacking those that involve multiple stakeholders’ perspectives. Hence, this thesis aims to learn and understand the perspectives of governments and plastic producers as key stakeholders of EPR to address two main issues: drivers and barriers in the formulation and implementation of an international EPR for plastic packaging waste as well as definition of producers and their range of responsibilities. The thesis focused on the perspectives in European and Asian countries due to high traffic of (unjust) plastic waste trade in the two regions.

To answer those issues, interviews with fourteen stakeholders were conducted and five grey literatures were studied. Using two frameworks specifically developed to answer the issues, insights regarding the topic are discovered. Four categories of drivers and barriers are identified: allocation of responsibilities and dialogue among stakeholders, cost coverage, transparency and control, and external factors. Meanwhile, in defining the producer, plastic converter, filler, and multiple producers are proposed. Flexibility on deciding the producer is mentioned as well in regards to the international scheme’s producer. Different forms of financial, physical, and informative responsibilities are proposed as well. The takeaways from the research for policy makers in relation to international EPR are to focus on the upcoming plastic treaty, international financing mechanism, capacity building for countries, informal sector involvement, and plastic polymer producer involvement. Meanwhile, for the academia researching EPR, focus should be on research that is more theoretical, increase the study subject and their sample size, and study the financing mechanism from plastic polymer producer. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Adimahavira, Ariel LU
supervisor
organization
course
IMEM01 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Plastic packaging waste, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), international EPR, international financing mechanism
publication/series
IIIEE Master Thesis
report number
2024.03
ISSN
1401-9191
language
English
id
9172587
date added to LUP
2024-08-27 08:46:09
date last changed
2024-08-27 08:46:09
@misc{9172587,
  abstract     = {{Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy principle commonly used to manage plastic packaging waste in which the producer is taking a major role. The current discussions reached a point that discusses the necessity of an international EPR, which could extend the producer’s responsibility outside of its national boundary. However, the discussions are lacking those that involve multiple stakeholders’ perspectives. Hence, this thesis aims to learn and understand the perspectives of governments and plastic producers as key stakeholders of EPR to address two main issues: drivers and barriers in the formulation and implementation of an international EPR for plastic packaging waste as well as definition of producers and their range of responsibilities. The thesis focused on the perspectives in European and Asian countries due to high traffic of (unjust) plastic waste trade in the two regions.

To answer those issues, interviews with fourteen stakeholders were conducted and five grey literatures were studied. Using two frameworks specifically developed to answer the issues, insights regarding the topic are discovered. Four categories of drivers and barriers are identified: allocation of responsibilities and dialogue among stakeholders, cost coverage, transparency and control, and external factors. Meanwhile, in defining the producer, plastic converter, filler, and multiple producers are proposed. Flexibility on deciding the producer is mentioned as well in regards to the international scheme’s producer. Different forms of financial, physical, and informative responsibilities are proposed as well. The takeaways from the research for policy makers in relation to international EPR are to focus on the upcoming plastic treaty, international financing mechanism, capacity building for countries, informal sector involvement, and plastic polymer producer involvement. Meanwhile, for the academia researching EPR, focus should be on research that is more theoretical, increase the study subject and their sample size, and study the financing mechanism from plastic polymer producer.}},
  author       = {{Adimahavira, Ariel}},
  issn         = {{1401-9191}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{IIIEE Master Thesis}},
  title        = {{An Exploratory Study for an International Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging Waste: Perspectives from European and Asian Key Stakeholders}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}