What It Is

Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Directive) is a binding EU regulation establishing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It mandates prevention, collection, treatment, reuse, and recovery of EEE across an open scope since 2018, prioritizing the waste hierarchy to minimize environmental risks and recover critical materials.

Key Components

• Six open-scope categories in Annex III for all EEE.
• **Collection targets65% of average EEE placed on market (POM) over three years or 85% of WEEE generated.
• **Treatment standardsSelective depollution (Annex II), recovery/recycling targets.
• **EPR modelProducer registration, reporting via national registers, financing via PROs.
• National transposition with harmonized formats (e.g., Regulations 2017/699, 2019/290).

Why Organizations Use It

Legal compliance avoids fines and market bans; enables critical raw material recovery; supports Green Deal goals. Reduces risks from illegal exports, enhances circular economy resilience, builds stakeholder trust through traceability.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: gap analysis, national registrations, PRO joining, POM data systems, reverse logistics. Applies to producers/importers selling EEE in EU/EEA; multi-jurisdictional for multinationals. No central certification; national audits/enforcement.

What It Is

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards are a modular, voluntary framework for sustainability reporting. Their primary purpose is to enable organizations to disclose significant economic, environmental, and social impacts using an impact-centric materiality approach, prioritizing actual and potential effects on stakeholders over purely financial concerns.

Key Components

• Universal Standards (GRI 1: Foundation, GRI 2: General Disclosures, GRI 3: Material Topics) as baseline requirements.
• Sector Standards for high-impact industries like oil & gas, mining.
• Topic Standards (e.g., GRI 403 Occupational Health & Safety, GRI 308 Supplier Environmental Assessment) with specific disclosures.
• Core principles: accuracy, balance, verifiability; mandatory GRI Content Index for traceability. No formal certification, but assurance recommended.

Why Organizations Use It

• Aligns with regulations (e.g., EU CSRD); builds stakeholder trust, enables benchmarking.
• Manages risks like supply chain impacts; enhances reputation, access to capital.
• Supports double materiality for broad audiences including investors, communities.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: materiality assessment, data systems, management disclosures, Content Index. Applicable to all sizes/sectors globally; involves governance, training, optional external assurance. (178 words)