Extended producer responsibility (EPR), first formally introduced in Sweden in 1979, has spread to Asia. (In 1979, a Swedish law mandated aluminum can recycling.¹ ) Since this time, numerous countries have enacted EPR policies. In Japan, the government has introduced EPR policies for containers and packaging, and some household appliances. The Japanese legislation is a modified form of EPR that promotes shared responsibility for end-of-life items among manufacturers, importers, retailers, and consumers. EPR strategies adopted by the Republic of Korea government include deposit-refund systems, non-refundable product fees, and design requirements for packaging. The country also uses restrictions on the distribution of disposable goods and eco-labeling to leverage environmentally preferable behaviors amongst manufacturers and importers. EPR policies in place in Taiwan include deposit-return systems, and mandatory product take-backs. Taiwan also uses environmental labeling to encourage manufacturers to design and supply environmentally friendly products.

This Facts to Act On examines the extended producer responsibility in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Tainwan

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