ATIEL & UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee
Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, and Recover. These steps encompass efficient product use and manufacturing processes, extend product lifecycles, and maximize material utility, all of which drive resource efficiency and sustainability.
Figure 3: 10R framework9 3.4 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Schemes
Promoting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is another critical concept in circular waste oil management. EPR assigns responsibility to producers (manufacturers or importers) for the entire lifecycle of their products, including end-of-life management. The WFD provides a robust framework for the implementation of EPR across Europe, with each Member State responsible for regulating and overseeing the operational aspects within its jurisdiction.
In the lubricating oils industry, EPR is particularly important as it encourages the proper collection and treatment of waste oils, prioritizing re-refining in accordance with the waste hierarchy. EPR covers the entire lifecycle of lubricants, from design to end-of-life, ensuring the effective management of activities such as the collection, transportation, temporary storage, and treatment of waste oils at authorized re-refining facilities. By fulfilling these responsibilities, producers play a pivotal role in fostering environmentally sustainable practices in the management of lubricating oils.
EPR responsibilities may be financial, organizational, or both. Although EPR is an individual obligation for producers, in practice, many choose to fulfill this responsibility collectively through an organization established to implement EPR principles on behalf of participating companies. This collective model serves three primary functions:
• Financing: Collecting fees from producers and redistributing funds to support the collection and treatment of end-of-life lubricants. This is a rapidly developing area, and it is advisable to monitor specific regions for policy changes affecting them.10 11 12 13 14
9 10R Framework, illustration based on Potting et al. (2017), p. 5. and Kirchherr et al. (2017), p.224 10 For Germany: GVÖ Gebinde-Verwertungsgesellschaft der Mineralölwirtschaft mbH,
https://gvoe.de/en 11 For Spain:
https://www.sigaus.es/en/home
12 For Italy: Consorzio Nazionale Oli Usati,
https://www.conou.it/ 13 For Belgium: Valorlub,
https://valorlub.be/en/ 14 For France: Cyclevia,
https://www.cyclevia.com/
Version 11.06.2025 © ATIEL and UEIL Lubricants & Greases End of Life, Sustainable Best Practices Page 10 of 42
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