Elretur participates in EucoLight’s annual conference: Focus on the future of producer responsibility and the circular economy
More than 50 participants from across Europe gathered in Madrid to discuss market developments in lighting, upcoming EU legislation, and the role of producer responsibility in the transition towards a more circular economy.
One of the key topics at the conference was the transition from traditional light sources such as fluorescent lamps to LED technology.
This development is significantly changing waste streams, while longer product lifetimes are affecting collection volumes and the financing of producer responsibility schemes.
We discussed how existing collection and recycling systems can be adapted to these new market conditions, ensuring that they continue to deliver high environmental performance and efficient resource use.
A key message from the conference was the importance of maintaining all lamp types within the same WEEE category. This is seen as supporting efficient collection systems, simplifying administration, and contributing to the financial sustainability of lighting waste management.
Several participants further emphasised that keeping all lamp types within WEEE Category 3 is essential to ensure joint collection systems and stable financing of schemes, in line with the ongoing transition towards LED lighting.
Another key topic was the upcoming changes in EU legislation on electronic waste and the circular economy.
In particular, the revision of the WEEE Directive and the upcoming Circular Economy Act are expected to have significant implications for producers, producer responsibility organisations, and public authorities across Europe.
The conference included exchanges between industry organisations, national authorities, EU representatives, and producer responsibility organisations on how future rules can best support both environmental objectives and efficient collection systems.
Participants highlighted the need for rules that better reflect the actual lifetime and material composition of lighting products, particularly as LED products continue to increase their market share.
A recurring message was the need for greater harmonisation of producer responsibility across EU Member States.
Participants highlighted in particular the importance of:
There was also a focus on challenges linked to online marketplaces, where products are sometimes sold without proper registration and financing of producer responsibility obligations.
At the same time, concern was raised regarding proposals for an EU levy on non-collected e-waste, which, according to several participants, could risk undermining the objective of increasing collection and recycling rates.
The conference also addressed eco-modulation, where producer responsibility fees are differentiated based on the environmental performance of products.
Here, several stakeholders emphasised that the lighting sector differs from many other product groups, and that flexible financing models as well as visible environmental fees should remain an option for the sector.
The conference also provided insights into new technologies and initiatives in reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of lighting products.
Topics included new solutions for LED sorting and recycling, as well as the development of more circular business models.
These initiatives support the broader transition needed to ensure that valuable materials remain in the loop and contribute to Europe’s circular economy ambitions.
As a member of EucoLight, Elretur closely follows European developments in producer responsibility and electronic waste management.
This cooperation provides an opportunity to share experiences, contribute to the European policy debate, and stay ahead of regulatory developments shaping the sector in the coming years.
The conference confirmed that producer responsibility for electronics in Europe is facing a number of significant changes in the years ahead.
The transition to LED technology, new EU requirements, and an increased focus on the circular economy are placing new demands on both producers and producer responsibility organisations.
For Elretur, being an active part of the European cooperation through EucoLight is essential.
It enables us to closely follow developments, share Danish experience, and contribute to ensuring that future rules support efficient collection and recycling systems for the benefit of both producers and the environment.
Upcoming changes in EU producer responsibility rules will have major implications for the entire sector.
It is therefore essential that new requirements are based on practical experience and support solutions that are already working well today.
At Elretur, we see European cooperation as a key platform for ensuring that future producer responsibility systems both increase circularity and remain administratively simple and cost-efficient for producers.
The conference in Madrid underlined that cooperation between producers, authorities, and producer responsibility organisations will be crucial to achieving Europe’s goals of greater circularity, improved resource efficiency, and more effective collection and recycling systems.