Producer Responsibility

Sri Suhartini, STP. M.Env.Mgt. PhD

 Setting the scene……

The “end of life” product ………

The consumers viewpoint

 Setting the scene……

The “end of life” product ………

The manufacturer’s (producer’s) viewpoint

 Setting the scene……

The “end of life” product ………

The suppliers viewpoint

A throw Away
Society???
 PR
An answer to the ‘throw-away’ society?

Should producers of goods continue make what they want without

regard to the consequences of disposal, with the costs of disposal
being borne by others, such as local government?

Shouldn’t they take more responsibility for the disposal and

consequences of that disposal for the goods they supply?
 PR Concept

• Emphasis on product rather than production.

• Responsibility by “producer” through whole
product life cycle.
• Encouragement for “Producer” to consider
design as the facilitator for reducing life-cycle
impact of product.
 Origination of PR
• Conceived in European Union via the 5th
Environmental Action Plan
• Extension of the “Polluter Pays” principle
• Idea of “shared responsibility”
 Principles
• Market-based instrument
• Direct application of “Polluter Pays” principle
to waste management
• Extends the traditional role of producers in
regard to environmental issues to post-
consumer stage (OECD PR Manual 2001)
• “Internalising” the external costs of
environmental impact , e.g. waste
management, into the cost of product
manufacture
 Drivers for PR
• Increase in electrical/ electronic waste going
to landfill
• Loss of valuable materials as wastes
• Harmful and hazardous materials being
released on disposal
 Broad methodology
• Place obligations on producers/product chain on
recovery and recycling
• Set targets.
• Arrange for the costs of the recycling/recovery to be
met by the producer(s).
• Place obligations to provide information on disposal
• Include requirements on product safety, hygiene,
non- hazardous materials and emissions on disposal.
 Implementation issues
• Setting of targets
• Defining “producers” involved
• Defining the product wastes involved
• Segregating product wastes
• Tracking the wastes
• Recycling/recovery methods
• Accrediting recovery/recycling agents
• Monitoring recovery
• Monitoring recovery costs
• Free riders, orphans and existing products
• Others?
Cradle to Cradle System Approach

Retailers
Consumers

Manufacturers

Take Back Programs

mail-back, collection sites,
Materials are recycled haulers, local governments
into new products

Funded by a grant from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
Producer Responsibility for Batteries

Funded by a grant from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
Manufacturer Take-Back Retailer Take-Back

Funded by a grant from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
 Manufacturer benefits
When manufacturers take responsibility for the recycling of their
own products, they:
•Use environmentally safer materials in the production process
•Consume fewer materials in the production process
•Design products to last longer and be more useful
•Create safer recycling systems
•Are motivated to keep waste costs down
•No longer pass the cost of disposal to the government and the
taxpayers

Source: Clean Production Action: Extended Producer Responsibility: A waste management strategy that cuts waste, creates a cleaner environment
and save taxpayers money
 How about application in Food
Industry
• What do you think??

Excercise