Key Takeaways

EPR compliance requires input from multiple teams — procurement, product development, logistics, and finance all play a role.
Training does not need to be lengthy — a 30-minute briefing covering the basics is sufficient for most staff.
Focus on practical actions — each team member should understand what EPR means for their specific role.
Annual refresher training keeps awareness current as regulations evolve.
Good training reduces data errors and improves the quality of your EPR submissions.

Why Staff Training Matters

EPR compliance is not a one-person job. Accurate data collection requires input from across your organisation — procurement teams ordering packaging, product teams designing it, warehouse teams dispatching it, and finance teams paying the fees.

If staff do not understand EPR, they will not capture the data you need or flag packaging changes that affect your compliance. Training ensures everyone understands their role in the process.

For background, see what packaging EPR is.

Who Needs Training

Core Team (Detailed Training)

Compliance/sustainability manager — the EPR data owner
Packaging technologist — responsible for packaging specifications
Procurement manager — orders packaging materials

Broader Team (Awareness Training)

Product development — designs new products and packaging
Warehouse/logistics — handles dispatch and transit packaging
Finance — processes EPR fee payments
Marketing — makes packaging claims and designs
Senior management — approves budgets and strategic decisions

Training Depth by Role

Role	Training Level	Duration	Content Focus
EPR data owner	Comprehensive	2-3 hours	Full EPR process, data collection, reporting
Packaging/procurement	Detailed	1-2 hours	Material classification, weight data, supplier engagement
Warehouse/logistics	Practical	30-60 mins	Transit packaging, nation data, dispatch records
Product development	Awareness + action	30-60 mins	Design for recyclability, new product notification
Finance	Awareness	30 mins	Fee structure, budgeting, payment process
Senior management	Strategic overview	15-30 mins	Business impact, cost management, regulatory risk

What to Cover

For Everyone: EPR Basics (15 minutes)

What EPR is — the legal obligation for packaging
Why it matters — fees, penalties for non-compliance
Your company’s obligations — registration status, reporting schedule
Their role — how their job connects to EPR compliance

For Data Collectors: Practical Skills (30-60 minutes)

What counts as packaging — and what does not
Material classification — how to identify plastic types, card vs composite, etc.
Weighing procedures — proper methodology for packaging audits
Data recording — where and how to enter packaging data
Change notification — what to do when packaging changes

For Decision Makers: Strategic Understanding (30 minutes)

EPR cost drivers — which materials cost most and why
Cost reduction opportunities — how to reduce EPR costs
Regulatory direction — where EPR is heading
Budgeting — how to forecast EPR fees
Risk management — consequences of non-compliance

Training Approaches

Option 1: Internal Workshop

Run by your compliance manager or an external consultant
Interactive, with examples from your own products
Include hands-on packaging identification and weighing exercises
Best for core teams

Option 2: Online Learning

Pre-recorded presentations or e-learning modules
Staff can complete at their own pace
Good for broad awareness training
Include a short quiz to verify understanding

Option 3: Desk Reference Guide

A one-page summary of EPR and the employee’s role
Pin to notice boards or include in induction packs
Cover: what is packaging, how to flag changes, who to contact

Option 4: Supplier Briefing

Include your key packaging suppliers in training sessions
They need to understand your EPR requirements to provide the right data
Request packaging specs and weight data as standard

Sample Training Agenda (Core Team — 2 hours)

Time	Topic	Format
0:00-0:15	EPR overview: what it is and why we comply	Presentation
0:15-0:30	Our obligations: registration, reporting, fees	Presentation
0:30-0:50	Material classification exercise	Hands-on
0:50-1:10	Weighing methodology and data recording	Demonstration
1:10-1:25	Break	—
1:25-1:45	Nation data and activity classification	Presentation
1:45-2:00	Q&A and next steps	Discussion

Ongoing Awareness

Training is not a one-off event. Maintain awareness through:

Quarterly Updates

Brief the team on any regulatory changes
Share your latest EPR data and costs
Highlight packaging changes that affected compliance

New Product Process

Include an EPR checkpoint in your new product development process
Require packaging specifications before launch
Calculate EPR fee impact of new packaging designs

Annual Refresher

Re-train core staff on current requirements
Update materials for regulatory changes
Review the past year’s compliance performance

Communication Channels

Include EPR updates in team newsletters
Post reminders at key reporting deadlines
Share wins — publicise cost savings from packaging improvements

Measuring Training Effectiveness

Track these metrics to evaluate whether training is working:

Data quality: Are error rates in packaging data decreasing?
Timeliness: Is data submitted on time?
Change capture: Are packaging changes being notified to the data owner?
Cost optimisation: Are teams proposing EPR-friendly packaging alternatives?

Getting Started

Identify who needs training using the role matrix above
Schedule sessions — start with the core team
Prepare materials using your own products as examples
Deliver training and record attendance
Set up ongoing awareness processes

Use the EPR compliance checklist as a training reference and explore our tools for data management.

How to Train Staff on EPR Compliance

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