We are facing the challenge of rapid growth in waste from electrical products (e-waste). In Europe, handling e-waste is regulated by the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, which is based on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) model as a regulatory tool forcing manufacturers and importers to take responsibility for their products throughout their lifecycles. However, the directive allows for great variations in implementations in each country, causing e-manufacturers and e-waste handling operators to face challenges in their transition to more sustainable operations. To identify the challenges involved, this study investigates the effect of the WEEE directive from a manufacturer’s perspective. A case study of an e-manufacturer operating subsidiaries in several European countries and the associated producer responsibility organizations (PROs) is presented. The case study includes interviews from 17 stakeholders in 12 organizations in eight European countries. Key findings are as follows. First, the WEEE data reported are not harmonized. Second, the calculations of the environmental fee differ across countries. Third, following up on different national WEEE obligations sometimes leads to over-reporting to avoid negative effects on environmental corporate social responsibility, brand reputation, and profitability. Fourth, outsourcing end-of-life (EoL) treatment responsibility to PROs is seen as positive by the manufacturer but results in a decoupling of the EPR and the operational EoL treatment, which may reduce efforts to transfer to a higher circularity level of its EEE products. Fifth, WEEE is considered a way for e-manufacturers to handle waste not to adopt a circular focus. This paper contributes to both practitioners and researchers within reverse logistics and sustainability by adding knowledge from real-life context of how EPR is implemented in WEEE.

我们正面临着电子产品废物（电子废物）快速增长的挑战。在欧洲，处理电子垃圾受欧洲废弃电气和电子设备 (WEEE) 指令的监管，该指令基于扩展生产者责任 (EPR) 模型，作为一种监管工具，迫使制造商和进口商在其整个生产过程中对其产品负责生命周期。然而，该指令允许每个国家/地区的实施存在很大差异，导致电子制造商和电子废物处理运营商在向更可持续的运营过渡时面临挑战。为了确定所涉及的挑战，本研究从制造商的角度调查了 WEEE 指令的影响。介绍了在几个欧洲国家和相关的生产者责任组织 (PROs) 运营子公司的电子制造商的案例研究。该案例研究包括来自八个欧洲国家的 12 个组织的 17 个利益相关者的访谈。主要调查结果如下。首先，报告的 WEEE 数据不统一。其次，各国环境费的计算方式不同。第三，跟进不同的国家 WEEE 义务有时会导致过度报告，以避免对环境企业社会责任、品牌声誉和盈利能力产生负面影响。第四，制造商认为将生命末期 (EoL) 处理责任外包给 PRO 是积极的，但会导致 EPR 和运营 EoL 处理脱钩，这可能会减少将其 EEE 产品转移到更高循环水平的努力。第五，WEEE 被认为是电子制造商处理废物的一种方式，而不是采用循环焦点。本文通过增加关于如何在 WEEE 中实施 EPR 的现实生活背景的知识，为逆向物流和可持续性领域的从业者和研究人员做出了贡献。