The French national EPR scheme for packaging has designed a comprehensive system of incentives for producers obliged to improve the design of their packaging in order to facilitate recycling. The incentives are twofold:
- On the one hand, fees are modulated in accordance with the quantities and properties of the packaging (see Figure 1. The fees are set per weight for each material (as an incentive to reduce packaging weight) and per packaging unit (as an incentive to remove over-packaging). In addition, a modulated grid of fees is applied according to more specific characteristics of the packaging. As a result, producers can receive a deduction of up to 24 % of the amount due or, in contrast, be penalised by paying more than 100 % of the basic fee.
- On the other hand, producers are provided with a number of tools and services to support them in changing their packaging in line with these modulations. This includes joint research and development projects of Eco-Emballages together with producers, an online catalogue promoting best practices, various guides and training, specific eco-design tools to assess the environmental impact and the recyclability of a certain type of packaging.
The weight reduction effect for several types of packaging is well documented. In particular, it was estimated that between 2007 and 2012 packaging waste put on the market was reduced by 106 000 tonnes (surpassing the national target of 100 000 tonnes). Moreover, since the start of the EPR scheme in 1994, the weight for packaging made out of glass, steel and certain plastics has been reduced (as shown in Figure 2).
In addition, the penalty system has proven to be especially effective in certain cases (e.g. ceramic cap on glass bottles). Nevertheless, the optimal way remains to support the company on R&D so as to avoid packaging that disturbs recycling. Furthermore, the EPR fee is part of the global cost of packaging, and, as such, of a global decision-making process including industrial costs and product/brand market position. It is therefore difficult to precisely evaluate the impact of fee modulation on packaging design. However, it is the case that eco-modulation is one of the elements producers take into account (along with other business costs).
PROs for other products in France apply a similar system of bonuses and penalties according to a set of environmental criteria such as reusability, recyclability, lifetime, presence of hazardous substances, etc.
