04/11/2025.- The Slovak government has proposed an amendment to the Environmental Fund Act that would enable the Environmental Fund to act as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) within the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. This has raised significant concerns across the packaging value chain, as a state-run PRO could undermine the efficiency and integrity of the country’s packaging waste management framework.
As part of its ongoing commitment to promote effective and well-design EPR systems across Europe, NMWE has co-signed a joint industry statement with EUROPEN and over 40 organisations from across the packaging value chain, urging Slovakia’s authorities to reject the proposed amendment. In the statement, aimed at Slovakia’s national authorities and EU policymakers, we call for an EPR system that:
- Aligns with the EU’s general minimum requirements under the Waste Framework Directive (WFD).
- Supports the objective of achieving large-scale recyclability under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
- Follows international best practice and transparent producer responsibility principles.
By co-signing the statement, NMWE continues to advocate for effective, producer-led EPR schemes that ensure circular waste management.
The full joint industry statement is available here.