18 May 2026
Lighting Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) navigating EPR Reform and new Circular Economy Policies
EucoLight, the European association of lighting WEEE compliance schemes, held its annual conference on 12–13 May in Madrid, hosted by its Spanish member, AMBILAMP, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and compliance experts to explore future opportunities and challenges for Producer Responsibility Organisations within the lighting industry on its way to circularity in Europe.
The two-day event gathered over 50 participants to exchange insights on market evolution, regulatory development, and the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
A central focus of the first day was the transition from Gas Discharge Lamps (GDL) to LED technologies. Our presenters examined how market evolution is reshaping waste collection, financing mechanisms, and recycling targets. These insights fed into a roundtable discussion with representatives from across the value chain, moderated by Zoltan Pilter, Chair of Eucolites’ Logistics and Treatment Working Group.
Participants also highlighted the importance of maintaining clarity in scope and EEE categorisation: keeping all lamp types within Category 3 supports efficient joint collection and helps safeguard financial sustainability for producers.
EPR and the New Legislative Paradigm
Participants heard about upcoming changes and their impact on the sector starting with a keynote speech by Korrina Hegarty, Senior Policy Director at APPLiA, who set the scene on the EU regulatory landscape in which the CEA and the WEEE will take place. The representative of the European Commission, Guillemette Vachey outlined expectations for the WEEE revision, while Raquel Gómez from the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge offered the perspective of the national administration. Andreu Vila from ECOTIC, presented the position of the Spanish PRO coordination office.
Collaboration, Communication, and Innovation
The second day continued with further discussions on the role of EPR within the European market, including EucoLight’s and LightingEurope’s views, featuring contributions from the European WEEE Registers Network and producers. This concluded with a roundtable discussion on the policy options for PROs in the upcoming new legislative environments. of EPR, moderated by EucoLight Vice-Chairwoman Natalia Sierra Conde Saraiva de Carvalho.
Furthermore, a dedicated session on communication explored how organisations can better prepare for regulatory changes and adapt to new services and stakeholder expectations. The Marketing and Communication group presented not only how EucoLight is preparing itself for upcoming legislative updates in communication, but also the variety of new communication projects across members.
Lastly, the conference concluded with a showcase of innovation within the sector, including developments in remanufacturing, LED sorting and recycling technologies, and new initiatives led by EucoLight members.
Reaffirming Key Principles for Upcoming Legislation
Across two days, EucoLight members reaffirmed several core principles that will guide engagement in the upcoming WEEE Directive revision and the Circular Economy Act. They stressed the need for stronger enforcement to ensure a level playing field, supported by greater transparency and coherence in national register data. Members called for collection and recovery targets that reflect the real lifespan and material composition of lighting products particularly LEDs and reiterated that eco‑modulation is not suitable for the lighting sector, where visible fees and flexibility remain essential.
Looking ahead to the Circular Economy Act, participants highlighted the importance of harmonising and simplifying EPR obligations through digitalisation and addressing free‑riding on online marketplaces. Finally, EucoLight members expressed clear opposition to the proposed EU e‑waste levy on non‑collected waste as an own resource for the EU budget, noting that it contradicts environmental collection and recycling objectives.
Should you want to know more about EucoLight and its publications, please visit the EucoLight website.
– ENDS –
About EucoLight:
EucoLight is The European association of collection and recycling organisations for WEEE lamps and lighting. On behalf of its members, EucoLight engages with everything related to the WEEE Directive, legislations and standards affecting the collection and recycling of WEEE lighting. EucoLight is the voice of European WEEE compliance schemes specialised in managing the collection and recycling of WEEE lighting; working to make the circular economy a reality for lighting products. EucoLight has 17 PRO members: AMBILAMP (Spain); Appliances Recycling SA (Greece); Ecolamp (Italy); Ecosystem (France); Ekogaisma (Estonia); Ekolamp s.r.o. (Czech Republic); Ekolamp Slovakia (Slovakia); Electrão (Portugal); ElektroEko (Poland); Elretur (Denmark); FLIP (Finland); Lightcycle (Germany); LightRec (Netherlands); Recolamp (Romania); Recupel (Belgium); UFH (Austria), ZEOS (Slovenia) and one affiliate member, LightingEurope. Founded mid-2015, EucoLight has quickly embarked into constructive dialogue with relevant stakeholders to provide expertise in the field of management and treatment of WEEE lighting and to promote the positive role of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes on the environment and society.
For more information, visit the EucoLight website, follow EucoLight on LinkedIn, or contact the Secretary General, Marc Guiraud (marc.guiraud@eucolight.org).
