AUA Acopian Center’s WPA Program Engages CSO and Media Representatives on Extended Producer Responsibility in Armenia
2 min readAGHVERAN, Armenia — From February 28 – March 1, the Sweden-funded Waste Policy Armenia (WPA) program of the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment organized a capacity-building workshop for civil society organizations (CSOs) and media representatives in Aghveran focused on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Around 50 representatives from various media outlets and civil society organizations, both from Yerevan and regions across Armenia, joined the workshop to discuss their role in ensuring the successful implementation of EPR policy in Armenia.
EPR is an environmental policy approach that shifts a product’s lifecycle responsibility to the producer. As a significant policy tool in waste management, EPR has been adopted across most European Union (EU) countries.
According to the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Armenia has committed to establishing an EPR system by implementing appropriate legislative measures to introduce a full-cost compensation mechanism. The AUA Acopian Center’s WPA Program supports the RA Ministry of Environment in implementing these CEPA requirements.
The two-day workshop included talks and discussions about EPR’s fundamental principles, its key benefits for businesses and society, and its role as a modern waste management tool.
Dr. Sergey Tantushyan, chair of the Master of Business Administration program at AUA and a professor of Strategy and Communications, led sessions on storytelling within the context of EPR. He helped participants identify connections between their personal values and EPR principles, demonstrating how strategic storytelling can enhance awareness and educate communities about this policy, particularly in the areas of international trade and regional partnerships.
WPA Program Manager Harutyun Alpetyan facilitated a panel discussion on waste management, EPR, and waste sorting. The panel featured members from the business sector, the Ministry of Environment, Sevan Municipality, and AUA. The panelists provided insights on how different sectors can collaborate to address environmental challenges and promote a greener, more sustainable future for Armenia, by using a policy tool like EPR.
As part of its efforts to involve the community, the WPA program plans to hold a series of competitions focused on “Promoting the Extended Producer Responsibility System in Armenia.”
This initiative aims to bring together various stakeholders, including media outlets and CSOs, fostering collaboration and creative approaches to EPR implementation. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase innovative ideas, contributing to a more sustainable future for Armenia.
The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA), promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity protection and conservation, greening the built environment, sustainable energy, as well as information technology and the environment. Visit ace.aua.am
The Swedish-funded “Waste “Waste Policy Armenia” program is implemented by the Acopian Center for the Environment in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Armenia and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia. Visit ace.aua.am/projects/waste_policy/
Media Coverage: