On October 20–21, 2025, the LIFE4EPR consortium met in the vibrant city of Barcelona for its 1st Steering Committee Meeting. Hosted by ENT Environment and Management, the two-day event took place at the prestigious Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC) — a historic venue in the heart of the city that provided the perfect backdrop for strategic discussions, collaboration, and forward planning.
The meeting brought together all partners from across Europe to review the project’s first six months, share progress, and align on the key priorities for the upcoming period.
Day 1: Setting the Course for LIFE4EPR
Following a warm welcome from Ignasi Puig and Rosaria Chifari of ENT, partners kicked off the meeting with presentations and discussions on the project’s main Work Packages (WPs).
The morning sessions focused on the technical and analytical pillars of the project:
WP2 – EPR schemes: EU State of Play, led by ACR+, WF, and VUB, provided an overview of the progress made in mapping Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes across Europe and identified key data gaps to be addressed in the coming months.
WP3 – EU-wide harmonised register of producers and products, coordinated by ENT, SOTELO, and ECO, explored the next steps toward building a pilot register that could serve as a model for greater transparency and traceability in EPR implementation.
Before lunch, WP4 took centre stage, led by ZWE and VUB, highlighting the importance of stakeholder engagement and co-creation in developing robust policy recommendations and nurturing the emerging ExPeRt Community.
After a networking lunch, the afternoon continued with discussions on WP5 – Dissemination and Communication, coordinated by ECO and ENT, focusing on strategies to increase LIFE4EPR’s visibility and impact across the EU.
The day concluded with WP1 – Project Management and Coordination, where ENT and WF guided partners through the upcoming reporting tasks and collaborative workflows. An open discussion followed, allowing partners to exchange insights and plan the next steps before heading to a convivial consortium dinner.
Day 2: Collaboration and Co-creation in Action
The second day was dedicated to joint working sessions designed to foster cross-WP collaboration and hands-on problem-solving.
From addressing data gaps in EPR mapping (WP2) to refining the design of the pilot register (WP3), partners worked together to validate draft deliverables and strengthen methodological coherence. The sessions also delved into stakeholder consultation strategies (WP4) and dissemination synergies (WP5), with a special focus on ensuring consistent communication and engagement across all project activities.
The final session, led by WF and ENT, covered project management updates under WP1, including preparations for the next Advisory Board meeting and the upcoming reporting period.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks by Rosaria Chifari, who thanked all partners for their commitment and fruitful discussions.
Looking Ahead
The LIFE4EPR consortium left Barcelona energized and aligned on its mission: to enhance the effectiveness and harmonisation of Extended Producer Responsibility systems across Europe. With clear goals and renewed collaboration, the project is ready to move confidently into its next phase — advancing knowledge, innovation, and sustainability in producer responsibility.
