Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging

Starting October 1, 2025, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) will come into effect in Denmark. This means that all companies that first make packaging available on the Danish market will assume financial and practical responsibility for the packaging’s entire lifecycle—from production to waste management.

What does producer responsibility entail?

Under the extended producer responsibility, companies must:

Register in the producer responsibility register via www.producentansvar.dk
Report quantities and types of packaging, categorized by material and use (e.g., sales packaging, transport packaging)
Pay fees based on the amount and type of packaging
Join a collective scheme (e.g., VANA) or handle waste management independently
Prepare technical documentation and comply with design-for-recycling (D4R) requirements

Who is covered?

Producer responsibility applies to:

Producers and importers of packaging (both generic and branded)
Private label owners marketing products under their own name
Micro-enterprises that import packaged products
Companies placing both single-use and reusable packaging on the market

Focus on flexible packaging

At EHRNO, we work with both flexible plastic and paper packaging—each with specific considerations:

Flexible plastic packaging

Design for recycling should be a central part of product development
Monomaterials (e.g., only PE or PP) are preferred for higher recyclability and potentially lower EPR fees
Multilayer/composite materials (e.g., PET/PE, OPA/PE, or laminates with aluminum or paper) have lower recyclability due to the need for special treatment and are categorized as either yellow or red, resulting in higher fees

Flexible paper packaging

Paper-based materials must be free of plastic or aluminum barrier layers to be considered recyclable
Unbleached and untreated paper has higher recycling value
Printing inks and adhesives can negatively affect recyclability

Our responibility

We take our producer responsibility seriously and actively work on:

Designing for recycling in both plastic and paper
Choosing materials that support a circular economy—both upstream and downstream
Collaborating with suppliers to minimize transport packaging
Preparing Declarations of Compliance and technical documentation
Adapting to national and EU requirements for EPR and PPWR

Curious or unsure? We’re ready to help you move forward.