Electrolux Professional is a leading global provider of food service, beverage, and laundry solutions. With headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, the company distributes products such as dishwashers and freezers to more than 110 countries globally, employing approximately 4,300 people. In the UK, the business is subject to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations for packaging waste¹. This is part of a regulatory landscape that has grown significantly more complex in recent years.

To manage these obligations accurately and efficiently, Electrolux Professional partnered with ERP UK in 2007. The relationship has given Electrolux Professional the tools, expertise and ongoing support needed to stay compliant as government requirements continue to evolve.

Packaging waste compliance in the UK is governed by a framework that demands precise data, regular declarations and a thorough understanding of changing government requirements. For Electrolux Professional, keeping pace with those changes, and particularly updates from Defra, presented a real operational challenge.

The UK government recently introduced significant new requirements, including more detailed declaration obligations and new business charges. For many organisations, the volume and complexity of this information proved difficult to absorb and act on quickly.

Beth Seager, Supply Chain & Logistics Manager at Electrolux Professional, took over responsibility for the compliance process in 2023. At that point, she was new to the industry and needed to get up to speed quickly.

The core challenges Electrolux Professional faced included:

• Regulatory complexity: Government guidance from Defra is detailed and technical, making it difficult to interpret and apply without specialist knowledge
• Frequent regulatory change: New declaration requirements and business charges introduced over the past year added further layers of complexity
• Internal communication: Beth needed to be able to explain compliance requirements and associated costs clearly to financial directors and business heads to secure internal approval
• Risk of information overload: The pace and volume of regulatory change created a risk of submissions being delayed or errors being made

ERP UK provided Electrolux Professional with a comprehensive packaging waste compliance service, combining a dedicated account management relationship, a purpose-built portal and proactive regulatory support.

Stuart Hill was Electrolux Professional’s account manager from the outset. When Beth joined the process in 2023, Stuart arranged an in-person meeting at ERP UK’s offices to walk her through the full compliance process. His support helped Beth build confidence quickly, despite being new to the regulatory environment.

ERP UK’s portal gives Electrolux Professional access to the tools needed to complete accurate, simplified submissions for packaging waste declarations. The platform is designed to reduce the administrative burden on clients while ensuring submissions meet regulatory requirements.

When the government introduced new, more detailed, declaration requirements, ERP UK quickly developed new software and tools specifically to help clients break down their data for submission. This proactive response meant Electrolux Professional could meet the new requirements without being overwhelmed by the additional complexity.

ERP UK provides quarterly updates to keep Electrolux Professional informed of upcoming regulatory changes and any developments that may affect the business. These sessions ensure Beth and her team are never caught off guard by any new requirements.

Beyond scheduled updates, ERP UK is available to answer questions as they arise. The team also runs seminars and webinars to help clients understand regulatory developments in more depth, giving Beth the knowledge she needs to communicate compliance requirements and costs confidently within Electrolux Professional.

Since working with ERP UK, Electrolux Professional has been able to manage its packaging waste compliance obligations with confidence and accuracy.

Key outcomes include:

• Maintained compliance: Electrolux Professional has met its packaging waste obligations consistently, including under the new, more detailed requirements introduced over the past year. ERP UK has now supported Electrolux Professional fully with the first 4 half-yearly Declarations required under the new Regulations.
• Reduced complexity: ERP UK’s tools and support have simplified what would otherwise be a highly technical and time-consuming process.
• Improved internal confidence: Beth is able to explain compliance requirements and associated costs clearly to senior stakeholders, helping to secure timely internal approvals.
• Proactive adaptation to change: When new government requirements were introduced, ERP UK’s rapid response, including new software development, meant Electrolux Professional could adapt without disruption.

“The government information that comes out, particularly from Defra, can be a whirlwind. ERP UK is very good at quickly passing that information on and simplifying it for us. They developed new software and tools to help break down the data, which really helped prevent information overload. Stuart has been accommodating throughout.”

Beth Seager, Supply Chain & Logistics Manager, Electrolux Professional

ERP UK is a leading expert in environmental compliance and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) solutions. Part of the Landbell Group, a global environmental compliance solutions provider, ERP UK supports over 700 businesses of all sizes across the UK.

The company provides compliance services for packaging waste, WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and batteries, alongside specialist data services for accurate compliance reporting. ERP UK’s mission is to simplify EPR for local and global stakeholders, using expertise and data to help organisations navigate complex environmental regulations with confidence.

For more information, visit www.erp-recycling.org/uk