PRO EUROPE: Uniformity in Diversity
In order to rule out packaging-political trade barriers in Europe from the very beginning, Duales System Deutschland GmbH founded the Packaging Recovery Organisation Europe s.p.r.l. – in short: PRO EUROPE – in 1995.
The primary task of PRO EUROPE is to award the Green Dot trademark to national collection and recovery systems within the EU, the European Economic Area and the candidate countries in accordance with uniform rules and regulations. To this end, DSD GmbH transferred the right to use the trademark in the form of a general licence to PRO EUROPE in 1996.
PRO EUROPE's scope of work has grown substantially over the years. Today it organises a dialogue between the national systems, sets up bilateral contacts and promotes a continuous exchange of opinions and experience. The chief executive officers of all systems attend conferences twice a year; in addition work groups meet regularly to address specialised topics such as technology and international marketing.
PRO EUROPE also supports the work of the European Commission and the Parliament on the revision of the European Packaging Directive and coordinates the opinions put forward by the European collection and recovery systems.
30 members are meanwhile operating under the aegis of PRO EUROPE throughout Europe and in Canada; 25 of them are using the Green Dot as a licensing symbol for packaging recycling. In addition, PRO EUROPE has signed cooperation agreements with similar systems in the UK (VALPAK), Canada (CSR), in Finland (PYR), Iceland (Icelandic Recycling Fund) and the Ukraine (UkrPEC), which in the interests of the Green Dot ensure that all licensees of the Green Dot can use their packages bearing the symbol worldwide without any problems.
More information is available here:
Position statement for a European strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste
