By: Paz Coliguante / Translated by: Adriana Serrano
The textile sector faces a growing environmental crisis worldwide due to the large amount of waste it generates in the development of its products and at the time they are discarded. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is presented as a key alternative to promote the circular economy, making producers responsible for the management of the products they manufacture until they become waste. This policy is being implemented in Chile, through the application of Law 20,920 (Ley 20.920) being an opportunity to move towards a more sustainable future in the textile sector.
What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?
EPR forces manufacturers to take responsibility for the waste generated by the products they sell. This involves organizing the collection, treatment, and recycling of these products at the end of their useful life. In the textile sector, RAP seeks to transform the linear consumption model (produce, use, discard) into a circular one, where products can be recycled and reused, minimizing environmental impacts.
Implementation in the textile sector
This policy establishes that producers must cover the costs of managing discarded textile waste, which includes the collection and recycling of products. Although these processes come at a cost, EPR is essential to ensure the continued funding needed to keep textiles out of landfills and the environment. In many European countries, mandatory EPR systems have proven to be more effective than voluntary ones, involving greater oversight and greater industry coverage.
The Law establishes a series of obligations on the part of producers, such as:
- Register of Producers: Registration in waste management systems.
- Ecological Design: Creation of durable and easily recyclable products.
- Financial Responsibility: Assume the costs of waste management.
- Deposit Systems: Facilitate the return and recycling of products.
This initiative is fundamental to addressing the problem of textile waste. The collection and management systems of used textile products have a significant cost that, at present, exceeds the income obtained from the sale of recycled products. Therefore, any collection system that seeks to manage all discarded textiles, not just those of high quality and value, requires specific and continuous financing. It is important to note that its implementation in the textile sector has a positive impact on collection, classification and recycling rates.
At this point, companies play a crucial role in the transition to a circular economy, since the implementation of EPR requires designing more sustainable products, facilitating collection, and collaborating on shared recycling systems. This improves their competitiveness and responds to growing consumer demand for responsible products.
Transparency and traceability
This initiative encourages greater transparency in the supply chain of textile products. By forcing producers to report on marketed products and their destinations once discarded, crucial visibility is created to measure progress in collection, reuse and recycling. On the other hand, the visibility of the systems allows the development of more specific solutions to improve recycling processes, as well as technologies that are better adapted to them.
Law 20,920 (Ley 20.920) for waste management
The Law 20,920 (Ley 20.920), a key Chilean legislation establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism. This law makes producers of priority products responsible for the organization and financing of the management of waste derived from the marketing of their products in the country. It is a special waste management regime where producers must meet goals for the collection and recovery of their waste, through specific management systems. Among the priority products established by law are tires, containers and packaging, lubricating oils, electrical and electronic equipment, and batteries. Producers of these products must organize and finance the waste collection system and meet recovery and recycling goals.
In conclusion, EPR could be an effective alternative to transform the textile sector towards a more sustainable model. By involving producers in waste management and promoting circular product design, this policy contributes to the creation of a more efficient, responsible, and, above all, conscious system.
Sources:
https://www.residuosprofesional.com/armonizar-responsabilidad-ampliada-del-productor-sector-textil/
