Why it matters: Creating corporate responsibility
1. Transparency:
An EPR footprint offers a clear, transparent look at the environmental cost of a product's end-of-life management. Consumers are increasingly concerned with sustainability, and they have the right to know how their purchases contribute to a circular economy.
2. Accountability:
By placing this information directly on products, manufacturers will have an additional incentive to ensure they are fulfilling their EPR obligations. It holds them accountable in a way that is easily understood by the average consumer.
3. Consumer Empowerment:
The EPR footprint empowers consumers to make more informed, sustainable purchasing decisions. Just as many now choose products based on their environmental impact, the EPR footprint can become another factor in the decision-making process.
4. Fostering Competition: If manufacturers know that consumers can compare EPR footprints, it may motivate them to not only improve their waste management practices but also to design products with longer life cycles, easier recyclability, and lower environmental impact. This could drive innovation in eco-friendly product development.