Packaging targets, design and markets: How stewardship schemes deliver results for brands, community, recyclers and governments
Session 4: Tuesday 24 Feb 2026 | 4:15–5:15pm AEDT
The Netherlands has emerged to have one of the world’s best-performing stewardship schemes for packaging. In this session, you’ll hear from Verpact, the Netherlands’ government-approved Producer Responsibility Organisation, which achieved a record 88% recycling and reuse of packaging in 2023.
Since formation in 1993, producers and importers have paid levies to Verpact based on the quantity, type and recyclability of packaging they put into the Dutch market. These levies cover costs such as collection, sorting and processing.
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We’ll hear how Verpact annually assesses and adjusts its levies to influence brands’ packaging design choices in line with improvements in recycling services, government targets and as markets shift. In 2024, Verpact restructured to lift effectiveness and efficiency.
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Speakers include
Bianca Lambrechts (Director Operations) and Paul Christiaens (International Development Officer and Regulations), Verpact (Netherlands). You’ll also hear from Chris Foley, CEO APCO on insights from its 2025 EPR consultation and how this is shaping its direction.
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Click here to Register and click here to see the full series.
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The program is sponsored by SPSA on behalf of its leading member brands and proudly supported by APCO, Australasian Institute of Packaging, One Planet Consulting and The New Zealand Packaging Forum.
