Brands have always been responsible for making products, and historically they've been very good at it, too good some would say! Companies by definition thrive on churning out and selling more, and more, and more products. What companies haven't been so good at is taking responsibility for those products at the end of their useable life, and instead, the responsibility for disposal of products and their packaging has fallen to consumers and municipal authorities. Huge landfills have been created and filled to cope with the repercussions of our "more more more" culture. Here's where Product Stewardship comes in.
Product Stewardship ensures that the responsibility for products throughout their entire lifecycle rests with the producer. In this blog, we'll explore the significance of Product Stewardship, how it connects to the circular economy, and why staying ahead of these changes (in many cases 'regulations') is crucial for brands and industry stakeholders.
Product Stewardship vs. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Why is Product Stewardship Important?
Who is Responsible for Product Stewardship?
Types of Product Stewardship Schemes
Product Stewardship in the Clothing/Textile Industry
Product Stewardship and Packaging
What is Product Stewardship?
Product Stewardship is the practice of ensuring that products are designed, produced, and managed throughout their entire lifecycle in a way that minimises environmental impact and promotes sustainability. It involves taking responsibility for the entire journey of a product—from its creation and use to its disposal or recycling. A key premise of Product Stewardship is that when stakeholders are made responsible for the disposal of the products they bring to market, they are more likely to consider manufacturing them in a way that makes them easy to dispose of responsibly. For example, if you're being made to recycle your products at end of life, you're going to ensure that they last longer and/or are made from materials that can actually be easily recycled!
Product stewardship supports the circular economy by ensuring that producers take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, encouraging recycling, reuse, and sustainable design. This reduces waste and keeps materials in circulation, aligning with circular economy goals.
Product Stewardship vs. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The terms Product Stewardship and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) are often used interchangeably, however one is a subset of the other. Essentially, an EPR scheme is a form of product stewardship which is mandated by law.
- Product Stewardship is a broad approach that involves all stakeholders in a product's lifecycle. It emphasises collective responsibility, where manufacturers, consumers, and even governments work together to reduce environmental harm and promote sustainable practices.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a mandatory form of product stewardship that shifts the responsibility of managing post-consumer waste to the producers. In an EPR scheme, producers must take back or manage the waste created from their products, ensuring that waste is handled in an environmentally friendly manner. EPR is typically enforced by governments as a way to reduce waste and encourage responsible manufacturing practices.
Why is Product Stewardship (and EPR) Important?
Environmental Protection: Product stewardship reduces the environmental impact of products through initiatives such as recycling, reuse, and proper disposal. This helps minimise waste, pollution, and resource depletion.
Resource Efficiency: By designing products for longevity and recyclability, stewardship helps conserve valuable resources. Instead of being discarded, materials can be reclaimed and reused.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Businesses that engage in product stewardship demonstrate a commitment to sustainable development. This can improve their brand image and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
Cost Savings: Efficient product management can lead to cost savings for both producers and consumers, reducing the costs associated with waste disposal and resource extraction.
Who is Responsible for Product Stewardship?
Responsibility for product stewardship is shared among various stakeholders:
- Manufacturers: Are primarily responsible for designing products that are environmentally friendly, durable, and recyclable.
- Consumers: Must be aware of how to properly dispose of or recycle products, returning them when possible for appropriate processing.
- Retailers: Play a role in promoting stewardship initiatives, providing information to consumers, and facilitating the return of products for recycling.
- Government: Establish regulations, oversee compliance, and may offer incentives for stewardship programs to be more widely adopted.
Types of Product Stewardship Schemes
Product stewardship can take many forms, depending on the level of responsibility assigned to different stakeholders:
Type |
Example |
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Mandatory Schemes (EPR): These are regulated programs where manufacturers are legally required to manage the waste generated by their products. EPR schemes ensure that producers are responsible for recycling or disposing of their products in an environmentally sound manner... and bear those costs. |
🎨 PaintCare is a program in the US designed to handle leftover and unwanted paint which can pose a significant environmental hazard if not properly disposed of. PaintCare provides collection points where consumers can drop off paint containers for recycling. |
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Co-regulatory Arrangements: In these schemes, both governments and industry groups work together to create and enforce environmental standards. The government sets the rules, while industry organisations collaborate to implement them. |
📺 Australia's National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) requires companies that import or manufacture TVs and computers to fund recycling programs. The government sets collection and recycling targets, while industry groups manage the process. Consumers can drop off e-waste at designated sites, ensuring proper recycling and reducing landfill waste. |
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Government-Accredited Industry-Led Voluntary Schemes: These programs are initiated and managed by industries themselves but are accredited and sometimes regulated by the government. These voluntary initiatives often focus on reducing waste and improving the sustainability of products without the need for mandatory legislation. |
💄 Sephora's Pact program is a partnership with the Pact Collective, an initiative focused on reducing beauty industry waste. Consumers can return empty beauty product containers to participating Sephora stores, regardless of brand. These containers are then sent to specialised recycling facilities, ensuring that they are properly processed instead of being discarded in landfills. |
Product Stewardship in the clothing/textile industry
The advancement of EPR Programs in the fashion/textile industry varies between regions and countries. As of October 2024:
🇪🇺 The European Union is working on introducing mandatory EPR schemes for textiles by 2025 as part of its Circular Economy Action Plan. The EU plans to make textile producers responsible for waste management, including collection, recycling, and disposal of used garments across all member states.
🇺🇸 While there is no national EPR program for textiles in the U.S., some states are exploring the idea. For example, New York is considering introducing a comprehensive EPR system for textiles. California has just (as of October 2024) become the first state in the U.S. to set laws around textile recycling by passing the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, setting a new standard for sustainable fashion in the U.S.
🇦🇺 Australia has created its first major EPR program for textiles with the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) leading the initiative. The EPR program Seamless Clothing Stewardship Scheme aims to:
- Reduce Textile Waste: By holding fashion brands accountable for the waste their products generate, the scheme aims to reduce the significant amount of clothing that ends up in landfills.
- Promote Recycling and Reuse: The scheme encourages companies to design clothes that can be recycled or reused, extending the life of garments and reducing environmental impact.
- Support Sustainable Fashion: The initiative promotes sustainable materials, eco-friendly production processes, and circular fashion models, such as take-back programs, where consumers return old clothes for recycling or reuse.
Better Packaging is proud to be a Seamless supporter because we believe in the vital connection between the packaging and textile industries. Packaging not only protects products but also plays a crucial role in sustainability.
By partnering with Seamless, we are committed to promoting innovative solutions that enhance both product protection and environmental responsibility, driving positive change in our industry.
If you're a fashion or clothing brand, register your interest to become a member of Seamless.
Industry stakeholders—such as recyclers, reuse operators, technology suppliers, government agencies, professional services, and academics—are encouraged to register as supporters here.
In 2023-24 the Australian Minister's Priority List focuses on five products as priority for product stewardship: clothing textiles, tyres, plastics in healthcare products in hospitals, mattresses, and child car seats.
Product Stewardship and packaging
Soft plastic recycling schemes are a form of product stewardship, as they focus on managing the lifecycle of soft plastics through responsible disposal and recycling. These schemes (funded by industry) collect and recycle soft plastics, like bags and wrappers, to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
New Zealand's Soft Plastic Recycling scheme is one of the most successful of its kind globally and has been running since 2019. It's goal for 2024 is to be recycling 16% of NZ's soft plastics.
In Australia, soft plastic recycling is gradually being reinstated across the country (post the collapse of Redcycle) by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).
Conclusion
Product stewardship is more than just a responsibility; it’s an opportunity to create lasting, positive change. By embracing sustainable practices across industries—from fashion to packaging—we can protect our planet, conserve resources, and inspire future generations to prioritise environmental responsibility. As businesses, consumers, and governments come together, we are building a circular economy where waste is minimised, and materials are kept in use for as long as possible. So much Better!
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