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As EPR legislation continues to rise across the globe companies must be proactive when it comes to compliance. The first step in doing so comes with registering with a Producer Responsibility Organization, or PRO. In its simplest terms, a PRO is an organization whose main purpose is to help producers comply with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws. PROs remove compliance stress from producers by managing reporting, keeping up fee payments, and completing compliance documentation. By joining a PRO, companies are taking the first step in EPR compliance although they aren’t done there. In this blog we will dig into the 5 steps companies should take after joining a PRO.
1. Understand Your Reporting Obligations
Following the registration with a producer responsibility program companies must understand what is required of them regarding reporting and compliance - including fees, deadlines, and data collection forms. Companies must be aware of which packaging materials and products are subject to reporting obligations, taking action accordingly. From primary and secondary packaging to tertiary packaging, companies must break down all the materials that make up a product. Depending on the specific EPR system the material reporting requirements will vary - making reporting even more complex and tedious.
2. Gather the Required Data
After organizations have a better understanding of what needs to be reported the next step is gathering the necessary data and specifications to do so. For many companies, this can pose a huge hurdle, with data spread across teams and in multiple siloed systems. Although this may be a rude awakening for many companies it is also a great opportunity to re-evaluate how data is structured and managed. With the right tools for Specification Data Management companies can seamlessly track data on production volumes, materials, packaging formats, quantities, weights, and end-of-life disposal - making all reporting needs easy to come by.
3. Form a Cross-Functional Compliance Team
To successfully meet EPR program requirements on time and accurately there must be buy-in across all teams within an organization. From product development and design teams to procurement and quality control all members must have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. This means assigning specific points of contact across stakeholders to ensure that there is ongoing compliance. With clear communication and consistent check-ins, companies can ensure that all data is submitted on time and accurately to PRO.
4. Implement Data Collection and Tracking Systems
As mentioned before, many companies struggle with data management to begin with - the need to comply with rising EPR laws is a great opportunity to address this issue. By implementing tools for data collection and tracking companies can ensure that data is accessible and up to date. By establishing best practices with these systems companies can streamline data tracking and reduce the burden of manual data entry. As legislation shifts, having these systems in place will also help teams track changes while meeting the needs of new requirements. For companies working with multiple suppliers and vendors storing data in one central system is also a crucial step to ensure that external stakeholders are meeting compliance needs.
5. Regularly Review and Adjust for Regulatory Changes
In response to the changes and rise in EPR laws around the world producer responsibility organizations must adjust accordingly. With this being said it is essential that companies regularly monitor changes in PRO guidelines so they do not fall behind on reporting requirements. By staying up to date with changing PRO requirements companies can consistently adjust their data collection and tracking to meet these needs. Companies may also consider future planning for forecasted EPR legislation. Across the nation, EPR frameworks have set goals for years to come. By taking these into consideration companies can set internal goals to stay ahead of the game.
Conclusion
Companies in every industry around the globe are going to face EPR legislation in some way, shape, or form. By registering with a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) companies can take some of the stress out of compliance expectations. However, it takes more than just registering with a PRO to meet EPR laws. Companies must proactively engage with reporting needs, providing up-to-date and accurate data to achieve full compliance. Companies need to realize that this process is ongoing and requires constant education and change. Although entering the world of EPR and PROs can seem daunting companies that view these requirements as a path toward long-term sustainable change and regulatory alignment will reap the benefits. To learn more about EPR check out this blog or learn how Specright can help you with your data management and reporting needs request a demo today.
