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Extended Producer Responsibility and Packaging Waste

Fröding, Edvard LU (2025) NEKN01 20251
Department of Economics
Abstract
This thesis investigates how the design of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems
influences two different packaging-waste outcomes across 12 EU member countries from 1997 to
2022. Addressing a gap in the empirical literature, the study develops a novel EPR Strength Index
a two-dimensional measure that captures institutional (legal clarity, enforcement, transparency and
reporting) and economic-operational (cost coverage, eco-modulation, PROs, collection systems
and DRS) design quality. Using a two-way fixed-effects panel regression on a phase-based EPR
dataset, the analysis links policy design scores to recycled packaging waste per capita and total
packaging waste generated per capita.
The results reveal a non-linear... (More)
This thesis investigates how the design of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems
influences two different packaging-waste outcomes across 12 EU member countries from 1997 to
2022. Addressing a gap in the empirical literature, the study develops a novel EPR Strength Index
a two-dimensional measure that captures institutional (legal clarity, enforcement, transparency and
reporting) and economic-operational (cost coverage, eco-modulation, PROs, collection systems
and DRS) design quality. Using a two-way fixed-effects panel regression on a phase-based EPR
dataset, the analysis links policy design scores to recycled packaging waste per capita and total
packaging waste generated per capita.
The results reveal a non-linear relationship: statistically significant for total packaging waste and
marginally significant (10 % level) for recycling. Stronger economic-operational design is
marginally associated with higher recycling rates, though returns diminish at higher policy
intensities. Institutional quality shows a significant U-shaped association with total packaging
waste, suggesting that improvements yield benefits primarily in weaker systems. These findings
highlight that not just the presence but the strategic design of EPR systems is crucial for achieving
circular-economy goals. The research contributes a framework for tracking EPR reform and
provides evidence-based insights for policymakers seeking to improve waste governance. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Fröding, Edvard LU
supervisor
organization
course
NEKN01 20251
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
EPR, Packaging Waste, Environmental Economics
language
English
id
9198216
date added to LUP
2025-09-12 09:59:02
date last changed
2025-09-12 09:59:02
@misc{9198216,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates how the design of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems
influences two different packaging-waste outcomes across 12 EU member countries from 1997 to
2022. Addressing a gap in the empirical literature, the study develops a novel EPR Strength Index
a two-dimensional measure that captures institutional (legal clarity, enforcement, transparency and
reporting) and economic-operational (cost coverage, eco-modulation, PROs, collection systems
and DRS) design quality. Using a two-way fixed-effects panel regression on a phase-based EPR
dataset, the analysis links policy design scores to recycled packaging waste per capita and total
packaging waste generated per capita.
The results reveal a non-linear relationship: statistically significant for total packaging waste and
marginally significant (10 % level) for recycling. Stronger economic-operational design is
marginally associated with higher recycling rates, though returns diminish at higher policy
intensities. Institutional quality shows a significant U-shaped association with total packaging
waste, suggesting that improvements yield benefits primarily in weaker systems. These findings
highlight that not just the presence but the strategic design of EPR systems is crucial for achieving
circular-economy goals. The research contributes a framework for tracking EPR reform and
provides evidence-based insights for policymakers seeking to improve waste governance.}},
  author       = {{Fröding, Edvard}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Extended Producer Responsibility and Packaging Waste}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}