9. Podium Event on 9.9.2026 in Hamburg at the Mövenpick Hotel

Increasing compliance requirements in times of protectionism and stagnant growth. Will this turn out well for European SMEs?

In our panel discussion, we will connect the topics of Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Responsibility with the current political and economic situation and examine the challenges for companies from different perspectives. Free of charge for VERE members!

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VERE provides lobbying for SME's regarding environmental laws and transfers the issues into the political debate

9. Podium Event on 9.9.2026 in Hamburg at the Mövenpick Hotel

Increasing compliance requirements in times of protectionism and stagnant growth. Will this turn out well for European SMEs?

In our panel discussion, we will connect the topics of Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Responsibility with the current political and economic situation and examine the challenges for companies from different perspectives. Free of charge for VERE members!

×

The Association for the take-back and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (VERE e.V.) is an international community for optimal organisation and handling of all requirements, obligations and consequences for producers, importers and distributors of non-food products and their packaging resulting from EU law and the national laws derived from it.

When the association was founded, VERE’s focus was, as its name suggests, on the German implementation of the European WEEE Directive, the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG). Today, in addition to extended producer responsibility in the form of the WEEE Directive, EU Battery Directive or EU Packaging Directive, VERE’s activities also concentrate on product compliance issues such as under the European Product Safety Regulation or the Product Liability Directive or the Ecodesign Regulation. VERE also closely monitors developments in connection with the European Green Deal on behalf of its members. As an influential association across the EU, VERE is a key campaigner against country-specific labels that hinder the free movement of goods in the EU’s single market.

In the spirit of fair competition, VERE is particularly, but not exclusively, committed to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises. The VERE association is the only organisation that effectively represents the interests of “the little ones” in the implementation and fulfilment of the strongly increasing requirements and also secures their rights. VERE thus occupies a niche. VERE meanwhile has over 4,000 members and is listed in the EU Transparency Register and the Lobby Register of the Deutscher Bundestag.

News

PPWR chaos ahead of 12 August: Politicians send mixed signals while industry calls for planning certainty

The debate surrounding the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) continues. Following reports last week that German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) intended to advocate postponing the application of key PPWR provisions, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) has since distanced itself from those reports. Meanwhile, more than 120 companies and industry associations have issued a joint appeal to the European Commission, Parliament and Council, urging policymakers not to delay or reopen the regulation.

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VerpackDG background for insiders

The German federal government has adopted a new Packaging Act that significantly tightens the rules for producers and retailers. Higher recycling targets, stricter material requirements and new financial incentives are intended to make packaging more recyclable. From 2028, a 75% recycling target will apply to plastic packaging, increasing to 80% from 2030. Companies that continue to use packaging that is difficult to recycle will face higher costs in the future. How are affected stakeholders responding?

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Europe faces trade conflict: Is EPR the key to reducing dependence on China?

The European Union is taking a tougher stance on trade with China. Low-cost imports driven by industrial overcapacity are placing increasing pressure on European producers, while dependence on Chinese raw materials and supply chains has become a growing geopolitical concern. While Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is often criticised as little more than regulatory red tape, it is increasingly being viewed as a strategic tool for strengthening the circular economy and improving Europe's resource resilience. Could Europe's ambitious EPR framework become part of the answer to China's growing industrial influence?

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About

VERE, a guardian for SME's

The VERE Association provides lobbying while constantly maintaining its political neutrality. As a guardian for small and medium-sized enterprises VERE attends to the problems, concerns and grievances of its members and transfers the issues into the political debate.

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Partner

Buhck Gruppe Hamburg
BVS Handelsverband Spielwaren
BVT Handelsverband Technik
Energie-Gemeinschaft Hamburg
EHTW Service GmbH
GWW Gesamtverband der Werbeartikel-Wirtschaft e.V.
Hamburg T.R.E.N.D. 2013 – Wertstoff Elektroschrott
IT-Recht Kanzlei München
Reisswolf Deutschland
trade-e-bility GmbH
GRS Service GmbH
VFI Deutschland
Verein sicherer und seriöser Internetshopbetreiber e. V.
WGA Hamburg e.V.
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