Investigating Producer Responsibility Organisations for WEEE: Case Study of Nokia in Finland, Sweden and the UK
Abstract: The WEEE Directive requires the producers to fulfil e-waste compliance according to the extended producer responsibility (EPR) principle. In order for producers to comply with the requirements nationally, collective compliance schemes were formed. Usually the manufacturers join together and form producer responsibility organisations (PROs) which take the responsibility for organising the waste management of products entirely, and allocate costs to the producers fairly, as well as report to the national governments. The main aim of this thesis is to contribute to an understanding on the selected aspects of PROs from the manufacturer’s point of view, by highlighting the similarities and differences in case countries Finland, Sweden and the UK. Specific focus is on the potential for manufacturers to influence the actions of PROs. The thesis maps out the WEEE PROs and the operating environments for the multinational mobile phone manufacturer Nokia. Other producers, municipalities, recyclers and authorities are also considered when viewing the competitive multi-stakeholder system. In order to find out whether the PROs and producers uphold common goals, and whether information is transparent, multiple agent framework by Waterman and Meier (1998) based on agency theory was evaluated in each of the case countries. The national EPR systems were estimated with regard to responsibilities suggested by Lindhqvist (1998). The findings show how the producers’ opportunities to influence their PRO’s decision making processes are seen by both stakeholders. It is further evaluated whether a consensus exists between the producers and the PRO’s views on the WEEE management. Moreover, the thesis found that important aspects for reaching the consensus were shared opinions about economic and physical responsibility, transparent information and the set-up of the PRO.
AT THIS PAGE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE ESSAY. (follow the link to the next page)