take-e-way News and Press Releases

Based on the latest case law, online traders are required to offer consumer-friendly disposal options for waste electrical equipment. Already since 2016, stationary retailers with a sales floor space for electric equipment from 400 sqm and online traders with electrical mail order and shelf space from 400 sqm have had to offer a free take-back service for waste electrical equipment. In this regard, online traders must prove that they have take-back facilities within a reasonable distance from their respective end customers, i.e. throughout Germany.

Since 1 March 2021, the OPEN Foundation has been the only organisation in the Netherlands that can implement the obligations for producers of electrical and electronic equipment. Therefore, these producers are obliged to join the OPEN Foundation and pay the disposal fees to it.

Our new webinar “EPR in Europe and beyond: The challenges of International Sales” will provide you with a small selection of the latest developments. Contents of the webinar are an introduction into the international services by take-e-way, latest developments in France, Sweden, Poland and the United Kingdom, and details about the fact that take-e-way now is also offering services in the United States.

According to our partner association VFI (German Importers), on 12 February 2021 the agreement on the planned German Supply Chain Act was presented at the press conference of the Ministries for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). Companies are expected to hold their direct suppliers very closely to account, but also to keep an eye on the entire supply chain. If a company becomes aware of an irregularity in the supply chain, it should be committed to take remedial action. According to the ministers, the aim is to combat child labour and paltry wages in the future, but also to ensure greater environmental protection. In a phased plan, the Supply Chain Act is to apply to companies with 3,000 or more employees starting in 2023, followed by companies with 1,000 or more employees as of 2024. Liability under civil law is off the table and will be replaced by a list of offences and fines. Moreover, such companies can be excluded from public tenders.

According to reports from take-e-way customers, Amazon is currently informing its merchants regarding the EU Regulation on Product Safety (known as “Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on Market Surveillance and Conformity of Products”), which will take effect on 16 July 2021. Owing to the large number of requirements, we recommend that you should already take action right now. In this respect, you will not be left on your own, because we can actively support you with our solutions regarding the Market Surveillance Ordinance.

With the kind permission of Duales System Deutschland GmbH (DSD), we would like to inform you regarding DSD’s assessment of the use of the Green Dot in France. The “Green Dot” is a symbol that has been particularly well known for 30 years now. It signals to consumers that the producer of the labelled packaged product is participating in the financing of an authorised national system for the collection and recycling of packaging and is thus clear evidence of producer responsibility. To ensure the free movement of goods within the EU, 31 European organisations under the PRO Europe umbrella have agreed on the Green Dot as a valid symbol. According to DSD. “information letters” are currently in circulation concerning the continued use of the “Green Dot” trademark in France. From DSD’s perspective, much of this information is factually incomplete, partly incorrect and confusing. DSD would therefore like to provide you with some facts.

With the many different types of packaging, it is difficult for consumers to keep track of what belongs in which recycling bin. To facilitate waste sorting, Denmark developed a voluntary pictogram system in 2016, which is now also being implemented in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. This flexible but uniform colour, terminology and symbol system has already been introduced in over 90 % of Danish municipalities, not only in recycling centres, recycling stations and residential areas, but also on packaging materials. Do you place packaging on the market in the Scandinavian countries? You can then use these pictograms free of charge and thus create a visual link for consumers between the empty packaging and the correct recycling container. As such you can make a valuable contribution to the circular economy.

The rule of thumb is that the first economic operator placing an electrical/electronic device, packaging or a battery on the market is responsible for proper registration of the product and participation in country-specific take-back systems. The complexity of national legislation, as well as of the offerings of individual compliance systems, is immense. Both country-specific legislation and system performance are subject to constant change and must be continuously monitored and adapted to changing framework conditions. The consultants from take-e-way’s “International Compliance” team can provide guidance here.

In this video, our colleague Florian Spreu introduces the “International Compliance” team and the services rendered by take-e-way concerning international sales of electric equipment, packaging and batteries subject to legal certainty.

Industrial batteries, by definition, are all batteries that are not automotive or device batteries. In this context, automotive batteries are defined as batteries intended for the starter, lighting or ignition of vehicles, but not for their propulsion. In contrast, device batteries are encapsulated batteries that can be held in one hand. This leaves a large delta between device batteries and automotive batteries, which belong to the category of industrial batteries. These include, for instance, batteries for electric vehicles and e-scooters, but also for other technical devices, provided that they cannot be “held in one hand” (Section 2 No. 6. Batteries Act (BattG)). Industrial batteries are also required to be registered with the EAR foundation (German WEEE registration board). At the time of registration, a declaration must be submitted to the effect that a return facility has been set up, as well as information on how last owners entitled to a return can access the return facility. Accordingly, manufacturers are tasked with creating a sustainable and comprehensive return option or facility. We offer a solution of this kind with our new contract for registration and return of industrial batteries.