Complying with extended producer responsibility requirements: business impacts, tools and strategies [electronic products]

As electronic product take-back requirements and materials restrictions spread throughout the EU, Asia and North America, multi-national companies must adapt by improving due diligence programs and incorporating compliance steps into supply chain management systems. This paper first reviews the regulatory background of requirements that manufacturers and importers of electronic goods are (and will be) required to meet. Secondly, examples of how these extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements are impacting businesses are provided. Finally, the paper introduces tools and management strategies that are available to minimize costs of compliance.