WEEE, Batteries and Packaging
At OMRON, we are committed to environmental stewardship and full compliance with European legislation. We actively support the principles of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which require producers to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of products they place on the market.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
EPR is now a core legal obligation across the EU. It applies to producers, importers, retailers, and online sellers who introduce electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, or packaging into any EU Member State. Under EPR, producers must:
- Register with national compliance schemes.
- Finance and organize the collection, recycling, and disposal of post-consumer waste.
- Report product volumes and material composition.
- Comply with labelling and documentation requirements.
WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU, amended by 2024/884/EU)
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive aims to:
- Prevent the generation of e-waste.
- Promote reuse, recycling, and recovery.
- Improve the environmental performance of all actors involved in the product lifecycle.
Recent amendments clarify producer responsibilities, especially for products under the "open scope" category, and address cost-sharing for waste management. For example, solar panel manufacturers are now explicitly responsible for disposal costs.
Batteries Regulation (EU 2023/1542)
Replacing Directive 2006/66/EC, the New Batteries Regulation introduces:
- Stricter sustainability and safety standards.
- Digital battery passports with QR codes (mandatory from February 2027).
- Minimum recycled content for critical raw materials like lithium and cobalt.
- Removability and replaceability requirements for all battery types.
- Extended producer responsibility with higher collection targets and detailed reporting obligations.
This regulation applies directly across all EU Member States and reflects the strategic importance of batteries in the EU’s green transition.
Packaging Regulation (EU 2025/40)
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) replaces Directive 94/62/EC and introduces:
- Uniform rules across the EU (no national transposition required).
- Limits on hazardous substances, including PFAS in food-contact packaging.
- Mandatory recyclability and reuse standards.
- Harmonized labelling for material composition (required by August 2028).
- EPR fees based on recyclability and recycled content.
This regulation supports the EU’s circular economy goals and climate neutrality targets.
Action by OMRON
We actively cooperate at the local level in each EU Member State to support the development of infrastructure for the collection, recycling, and disposal of:
- Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
- Batteries and accumulators
- Packaging materials
We work with national compliance schemes and Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to ensure our products meet all applicable requirements and contribute to sustainable waste management practices.
We are committed to environmental responsibility. In line with our values and the expectations of our customers, we ensure that our wide range of industrial components complies with the EU RoHS Directive.
At OMRON, compliance with all applicable legal obligations is a core part of our corporate culture. We continue to take all necessary steps to fulfil our responsibilities under the EU REACH Regulation.
The improvement of environmental performance throughout the entire lifecycle of products is tackled more effectively when attention is paid to it at the design phase. We constantly monitor the development of this set of Measures and take the necessary actions when required.