Is Your Business Ready for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)?

Selling your top product presented in high-quality protective packaging is always the preferred course of action. That is why coated paper is so often the material of choice, even though it is not always easy to recycle. The Repac² research performed by Sirris gives you an insight into which coating is the most suitable for your particular product, company and recycling ambitions.

Since 2019, the Circle Economy Foundation has published an annual report that outlines how circular our global economy really is. The figures from the most recent Circularity Gap Report are nothing short of disappointing: although circularity is higher on the agenda than ever before, practice lags behind theory. Time for action!

As an inquisitive and passionate entrepreneur, the discovery of the Go for Circular website has probably inspired you to make your business even more circular. After all, it’s better for the environment, for people and for your market position. Still, you should also take into account the rebound effect because it may curb the ecological progress, we are all striving for.

Go for Circular is just one of the initiatives of the FPS Economy to make a host of information available that helps entrepreneurs make their business practices even more sustainable. Every industry has specific needs and challenges and that is why the FPS Economy also supports various ‘norm antennas’. These are organisations that help companies in their industry with specific questions on quality standards, circularity, intellectual property, etc.

Recycling has become a common practice. But have you heard of upcycling? Many companies are taking it up, giving waste material a new, high-quality life. In one example, coffee grounds are processed in new applications such as cosmetics or construction materials. But think before diving in!

Let’s be honest: what’s more inspiring than bombarding a fellow entrepreneur with questions?

Our economy is too focused on cheap products that quickly end up in landfills. Due to their significant ecological and social impact, the EU is introducing new legislation. This Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) will also impact your SME.

You’re committed to circularity and want to shout it from the rooftops? Then be careful because greenwashing can be lurking just around the corner! Greenwashing is the misleading of consumers through false or exaggerated environmental claims. Not only can it harm your reputation, but it can also result in fines of up to 4 % of your annual turnover.

Your purchasing policy is the foundation of your circular entrepreneurship but in many cases it is still overlooked. These tips will help you make a conscious choice for circular raw materials and partnerships.