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Europe is sending a strong signal in the effort to reduce its dependence on critical raw materials. With the approval of the first industrial recycling plant for recovering rare-earth elements from end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment, a landmark project for the European circular economy is taking shape in Italy. For producers and retailers, the message is clear: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and high-quality recycling are becoming increasingly important competitive factors in strengthening Europe’s security of supply – and that of its trading partners.

Millions of small electronic devices end up in household waste or disappear into drawers every year, with far-reaching consequences for recycling, product safety and the financing of waste management systems. On International E-Waste Day 2026, the WEEE Forum is drawing attention to this growing issue and making it clear that the pressure on manufacturers and retailers to take action is increasing.

The debate surrounding the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) continues. Following reports last week that German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) intended to advocate postponing the application of key PPWR provisions, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) has since distanced itself from those reports. Meanwhile, more than 120 companies and industry associations have issued a joint appeal to the European Commission, Parliament and Council, urging policymakers not to delay or reopen the regulation.

The German federal government has adopted a new Packaging Act that significantly tightens the rules for producers and retailers. Higher recycling targets, stricter material requirements and new financial incentives are intended to make packaging more recyclable. From 2028, a 75% recycling target will apply to plastic packaging, increasing to 80% from 2030. Companies that continue to use packaging that is difficult to recycle will face higher costs in the future. How are affected stakeholders responding?

The European Union is taking a tougher stance on trade with China. Low-cost imports driven by industrial overcapacity are placing increasing pressure on European producers, while dependence on Chinese raw materials and supply chains has become a growing geopolitical concern. While Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is often criticised as little more than regulatory red tape, it is increasingly being viewed as a strategic tool for strengthening the circular economy and improving Europe's resource resilience. Could Europe's ambitious EPR framework become part of the answer to China's growing industrial influence?

The programme includes a series of legislative reforms, e.g., a new national textiles law, a proposed ban on single-use electronic cigarettes, and amendments to the Circular Economy Act, Packaging Act and the Substitute Building Materials Ordinance. At the European and international levels, Germany is also playing an active role in negotiations on a new EU Circular Economy Act and the UN Global Plastics Treaty.

The debate surrounding the reform of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the EU Environment Omnibus Package continues, with significant differences emerging between the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. While the Member States have largely rejected the Commission's original proposal, positions within Parliament remain divided, ranging from targeted exemptions for small businesses to the complete removal of the proposed EPR provisions. The coming months will be decisive in determining the future direction of the initiative.

The number of lithium batteries incorrectly disposed of in Austria's residual waste has increased sharply over the past decade. According to a recent study by Montanuniversität Leoben, commissioned by the Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies (VOEB), around 17 million lithium batteries are now discarded in general waste each year. The findings highlight a growing safety risk for the waste management sector while also underlining the need for higher collection rates and greater public awareness.

How can SMEs remain competitive amid changing regulations and growing global competition? At the upcoming VERE podium event on 9 September at the Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg, VERE members will engage directly with representatives responsible for regulation and market surveillance to discuss the challenges facing the industry and explore practical solutions. Our panellists are Dr Justine Karoline Hafner (Federal Ministry for the Environment), Christoph Petri (German Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Andreas Siegmund (Market Surveillance Hamburg), Alexander Goldberg (EAR Foundation), Dr Bettina Sunderdiek (Foundation Central Agency Packaging Register), Dr Benedikt Rohrßen (TaylorWessing), Stephan Tromp (HDE/IFS), Olaf Dechow (Otto Group), Eike Klein (Amazon) and Oliver Friedrichs (VERE/take-e-way). VERE members and take-e-way/trade-e-bility clients attend free of charge – register now to secure your place.

In principle, portable batteries integrated into products should be removable and replaceable by the end user. For safety reasons, however, some products are exempt from this requirement; in these cases, the batteries can instead be removed and replaced by independent specialists. An EU initiative is currently underway to clarify which products or product categories qualify for this exemption.