How is extended product responsibility (EPR) different from other environmental initiatives?

EPR, also known as product stewardship, focuses on making the entire product lifecycle sustainable through the collaboration of all actors in the product system, including:

• Suppliers,
• Designers,
• Manufacturers,
• Distributors,
• Retailers,
• Customers,
• Recyclers,
• Remanufacturers, and/or
• Disposers.

EPR programs require the coordination and cooperation of all involved entities to take actions that reduce the product’s lifecycle impacts.