UPV stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. This regulation obligates producers and importers to take responsibility for the end-of-life phase of the products they place on the market. It is a European measure to stimulate circularity.
The aims of the UPV include collecting more products after use; promoting reuse and recycling; reducing waste; and limiting the use of new raw materials.
Producers can currently still carry out these obligations individually, but in the future will be required to join a Producer Organisation (PRO) that collectively executes the legal obligations.
The GGA is not a Producer Organisation, but does seek collaboration with existing PROs.
The UPV applies when your organization places products on the Dutch market for the first time.
This can be the case, for example, when you:
You can also be classified as a producer when you have products manufactured by third parties under your own brand name.
Second-hand products are not subject to the UPV obligation.
The UPV for Textiles applies to textile products placed on the Dutch market, including workwear and safety clothing.
Additionally, work is underway to implement a UPV for shoes, which will also affect producers and importers of safety and protective footwear.
Whether a product is subject to the UPV obligation is determined based on tariff codes. Find a list of tariff codes here (page 3).
"The goal is to collect, reuse and recycle more and better end-of-life products. And to encourage greater use of recycled textile in products."
To comply with the UPV, producers and importers must:
1. Register with a Producer Organisation (PRO)
Through a PRO, your UPV obligations are collectively managed.
2. Report to the PRO
Annually report how many products you have placed on the Dutch market. You pay a UPV contribution per kilogram of textile you place on the Dutch market.
3. Contribute to the targets
Contribute to the legal targets for collection, reuse and recycling. Through a Producer Organisation, these obligations are collectively fulfilled.
4. Join the GGA
Joining the GGA is not mandatory to meet your UPV obligation. With your contribution, you do help with the actual collection and recycling of PPE. The GGA ensures that circularity is not just an administrative obligation, but is also put into practice.
Within the current UPV, there is still little attention to the specific challenges of the PPE sector. For this reason, the GGA has established a practical system for the collection, return logistics and recycling of workwear, safety shoes and other PPE.
Participation in the GGA does not currently replace your legal UPV obligations as a producer or importer. For this reason, we are in discussion with various Producer Organisations about collaboration and recognition of the collection and recycling efforts within the GGA.
We will soon share an update on the outcome of these discussions and what this means concretely for producers and importers.
Want to know more sooner? Get in touch via anne@greengearalliance.eu.
Are you a producer or importer of workwear, safety shoes and PPE, and would you like to be kept informed of our efforts to establish a UPV that works for PPE?
Indicate your interest here
The UPV is being rolled out step by step across Europe. The GGA is exploring how we can also contribute to implementing these obligations in other EU countries. Want to know more or collaborate? Get in touch with us.
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