The notification for Extended Producer Responsibility was released by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 16th February 2022 under the plastic waste management rules 2016.
It covers three categories of plastic packaging namely:
Category 1: Rigid plastic packaging,
Category 2: Flexible plastic packaging made of single layer or more than 1 layer with different types of plastic &
Category 3: Multi-layered plastic packaging: at least 1 layer of plastic & at least 1 layer of material other than plastic.
Category 4: Plastic sheet or like used for packaging or carry bags made from compostable plastics.
EPR regulation covers reuse, recycling, use of recycled plastic content & end of life disposal. The draft specifies the quantity of waste that will have to be managed by producers, importers and brand owners who generate plastic packaging waste in India
It also for the first time mandates the use of recycled plastic content in packaging for all entities: Producers, Imposters, Brand owners & Plaste waste processors.
The draft gives all stakeholders of plastic waste an opportunity to trade in EPR certificates. Surplus EPR certificates can be used for offsetting previous years shortfall; carry forward for use in succeeding year and it can be sold to other producers and brands.
Here’s a brief summary.
| OBLIGATIONS | Rigid | Flexible | MLP | Compostable |
| Obligation for recycling |
50% for 2024/2025 |
30% for 2024/2025 |
30% for 2024/2025 |
50% for 2024/2025 |
| Re-use |
For brand owners only: Packaging with weight 0.9>4.9 liters/kg 10% for 2025/2026 Packaging with weight <4.9 liters/kg 70% for 2025/2026 |
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| End of life disposal |
MLP only to be sent |
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| Minimum level of use of recycled material in packaging defined as follows, common for all Brand owners, Recycled plastic used in imported material will not be counted toward fulfillment of obligation. | |||
| Use of recycled content for each entity (Mandatory) | Rigid: 30% for 2025/2026 40% for 2026/2027 50% for 2027/2028 60% for 2028/2029 and onwards |
Flexible: 10% for 2025/2026 10% for 2026/2027 20% for 2027/2028 20% for 2028/2029 and onwards |
MLP: 5% for 2025/2026 5% for 2026/2027 10% for 2027/2028 10% for 2028/2029 and onwards |
Extended Producer Responsibility schemes are a vital part of any nation’s path towards achieving a Circular plastics economy in which waste is a valuable resource used to address a range of economic, social and environmental challenges. Lucro highly welcomes these new guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility as a means to stimulate the transition towards a circular economy in India. EPR is needed to translate principles into action and is therefore crucial for a circular plastics economy, contributing to sustainable development.
