Online free-riding is a topic of high concern, well documented by the OECD and the European Commission. Online marketplaces link producers, often based outside the Union, with consumers inside the Union. Online platforms facilitate the sales in EU Member States of products from sellers that do not comply with extended producer responsibility obligations and other Union legislation lack of registration, of take-back, or no collection and recycling fees paid. This puts compliant market actors at a competitive disadvantage and undermines the circular economy.

The webinar will include presentations from member states that have implemented new legislation to control the problem. A number of different approaches are being adopted – the webinar will give an opportunity to compare the different strategies adopted. It will also summarise initiatives at a European level and practical solutions for compliance by major online platforms that may tackle the problem.

Introduction by EucoLight Chairman, Fabrizio D'Amico, moderated by EucoLight Secretary General, Marc Guiraud.

With presentations from: Ecosystem (French Producer Responsibility Organisation), the German Environment Agency, an Environmental NGO (Deutsche Umwelhifle), Officers from the Spanish government (Ministries of Environement and of Trade and Industry), Responsible of Finnish agency for compliance, representative of the Competition department of the Italian government, the EPR Programme Manager of Amazon.  

The panel discussion will be lead by Natalia Sierra, Institutional & Public Affairs Director, Ambilamp (Spain) and Nigel Harvey, CEO, Recolight (UK).