Uncontrolled growth of EPR contributions

For several months, Jean Hornain, CEO of Citeo, has been publicly warning about the financial drift of the Packaging EPR. Interventions in the press, conferences, round tables... the message is clear: the economic model is on the verge of collapse.

The figures speak for themselves:

• €1.3 billion collected in 2024,
  
  
• €1.6 billion expected in 2025,
  
  
• And up to €2 billion in 2026, if nothing changes.
  
  

This annual increase of more than 20% is due to several combined factors: increasingly complex systems, extension of obligations, rising sorting, collection and processing costs, but also the increasing regulatory requirements (eco-modulation, transparency, recycling targets, etc.).

A structural tension on the EPR model

The EPR is based on a simple principle: "the polluter pays". But its current application reveals a flaw: the imbalance between increasing regulatory objectives and the actual financing capacities of those placing products on the market.

Citeo highlights in particular:

• The accumulation of costly systems (reuse funds, bonus/malus, investments in sorting centers, etc.);
  
  
• An urgent need to revise the scales to avoid overtaxing well-designed packaging;
  
  
• A threat to economic sustainability in the medium term, especially for SMEs, VSEs or e-commerce players.
  
  

The hidden issue: anticipate future adjustments

Beyond the warning sign, this situation should encourage companies to anticipate a future change in the rules:

• Potential revision of scales or modulation criteria;
  
  
• New obligations for environmental labeling or traceability;
  
  
• Acceleration of the digital compliance of EPR declarations.
  
  

On June 12, 2025, the ReUse initiative — large-scale reuse — will be officially launched. This ambitious project (30 million shared packages, 100 stakeholders involved) will also add new costs to the current structure. Hence the urgency of a rebalancing of the EPR model.

CompliancR: manage your EPR contributions and anticipate future increases

At CompliancR, we support those placing products on the market in the face of regulatory and financial inflation in the EPR sector. Our AI solution helps you to:

• Calculate your Scheme contributions Scheme by Scheme in real time;
  
  
• Simulate the impact of different modulations or scales;
  
  
• Manage your data flows and justify your declarations to Producer Representative Organisations;
  
  
• Anticipate upcoming reforms by structuring your compliance around reliable data today.
  
  

EPR is evolving rapidly, and its cost is exploding. CompliancR gives you the means to stay in control — technically, financially and regulatory.

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