Understanding EPR Compliance in Austria: A Complete Guide for Producers and Sellers

As sustainability regulations grow stricter across Europe, understanding and complying with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has become essential for businesses selling into the Austrian market. This article provides a comprehensive overview of what EPR is, which products are affected, and how your business can meet Austria’s EPR obligations in 2025 and beyond.

Do you know what is EPR?

EPR stands for Extended Producer Responsibility — an environmental policy that requires producers to take responsibility for the entire life cycle of the products they place on the market, especially during the post-consumer stage.

In Austria, EPR applies to producers and importers of specific product categories, including:

• Packaging

• Batteries

• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

• Single-use Plastics

Which Products Are Subject to EPR in Austria?

Packaging:

All producers and importers, including cross-border distance sellers, must register under the Austrian Packaging Ordinance and appoint an authorized representative if based outside of Austria.

Packaging materials covered include:

• Paper and cardboard

• Composite materials

• Textile fibers

• Glass

• Plastics (including polystyrene)

• Aluminum, steel, and wood

Single-use plastics:

Products made of plastic intended for one-time or short-term use also fall under EPR obligations. This includes:

• Balloons

• Wet wipes

• Food and beverage containers

• Plastic bags, straws, stirrers, wrappers, and takeaway boxes

Note: Packaging made of plastic also counts as single-use plastic and must comply.

Waste Electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE):

This category includes all types of electrical and electronic equipment which could be concluded into the following 6 types:

• Heat exchangers including all refrigerating equipment

• Personal household displays and monitors or devices

• Lamps

• Large electrical appliance with one side > 50 cm

• Small electronic appliance

• Small IT and telecommunication equipment

Batteries:
All the products that contain batteries are covered by the Battery Management Act and could be generally divided into the following four categories:

• Automotive batteries

• Industrial batteries

• Vehicle batteries

• Button Cells

Producers of batteries are responsible for ensuring that their waste batteries can be recycled or disposed of correctly by joining a batteries recycling scheme.

Batteries

Products made of plastic intended for one-time or short-term use also fall under EPR obligations. This includes:

• Balloons

• Wet wipes

• Food and beverage containers

• Plastic bags, straws, stirrers, wrappers, and takeaway boxes

Note: Packaging made of plastic also counts as single-use plastic and must comply.

What Are Your Obligations as a Seller?

With increasing platform enforcement (e.g., Amazon, Zalando, Joom, Alibaba), non-compliant products may be delisted or blocked from being sold in Austria. To avoid disruptions:

You must:

1. Register with an approved Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)

2. Submit regular reports on sales and product volumes

3. Pay recycling and compliance fees

4. Appoint a local authorized representative if you’re a non-Austrian entity

Fees vary based on product volume and company size.

Key Update for 2025

As of January 1, 2025, Austria is expected to strengthen enforcement of EPR compliance across all categories, particularly for battery and WEEE products. Platforms may begin requesting proof of compliance before listing approvals, and sellers who fail to meet new requirements may face automatic product removals.

It’s more important than ever to ensure your EPR compliance status is up to date.

📩 Contact us today for a free consultation and compliance evaluation.