Legislation

Waste Act and producer responsibility

Producer-responsible companies are responsible for the organisation and cost of waste management of the packaging they place on the market. This obligation is based on the Waste Act (646/2011) and its supplementary regulations.

The aim of producer responsibility is to transfer responsibility for waste management at the end of the product's life cycle to the person placing it on the market. This encourages material efficiency, recycling and environmental protection.

Who has producer responsibility for packaging?

The responsibility lies with companies that pack in Finland, import packaged products or sell their products in Finland by distance selling. An exception to this is so-called service and primary production packaging, where the producer responsibility lies with the manufacturer or importer of the packaging. A company is also responsible for its packaging if the packaging or logistics of its products is outsourced to another company.

Operators with producer responsibility include:

• Product manufacturers operating in Finland who pack or package their products

• Importers of products

• Finnish manufacturers or importers of service and primary production packaging
  
  

• Distance sellers who sell packaged products from abroad directly to users in Finland

The producer has several obligations:

• Advice and information on waste management, re-use and recycling

• Report annually on the quantities of packaging materials

• Cover the costs of waste management through producer responsibility charges

• Ensure that recycling is organised to meet EU recycling targets

The easiest way to manage your producer responsibility is to join a producer organization.

In addition, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the SUP Directive impose obligations directly on packaging, i.e. on packaging design and use.

SUP Directive - regulation of single-use plastics

The EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUP) is part of the waste legislation that specifically affects plastic packaging producers. It aims to reduce the harmful environmental impact of single-use plastic products - especially in the oceans.

In Finland, the SUP Directive has been implemented through the Waste Act and the Government Decrees, and introduces obligations for producers, such as:

• Sorting and collection responsibility for single-use plastic packaging (e.g. beverage containers)
• Requirements for consumer information on packaging
• Cost responsibility for cleaning and prevention (so-called extended producer responsibility)

PPWR - Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) is a new European Union regulation, directly applicable in the Member States, which aims to reduce packaging waste, improve the recyclability of packaging materials and promote the circular economy throughout the EU. It replaces the previous Packaging Directive and introduces stricter, uniform obligations for all market players.

Key objectives:

• To significantly reduce packaging waste by 2040

• Require all packaging to be recyclable by 2030

• Promote reusable and recyclable packaging

• Harmonise regulation across all EU countries - the regulation will apply directly without national implementation

Important for businesses:

• Eco-design requirements for packaging, including minimum recyclability of materials

• Setting reuse targets for certain packaging (e.g. takeaway food, drinks)

• Extended responsibility for producers: obligation to manage waste and more comprehensive reporting

• Stricter labelling requirements for packaging (e.g. recyclability information, material codes)

PPWR will have a wide impact on retail, food industry, e-commerce and other sectors that use or produce packaging.