The GRS Service GmbH, the GRS Batteries Foundation and the Reclay Holding GmbH, represented by Dr. Julia Hobohm, Georgios Chryssos and Raffael Fruscio, founded the European industry association PRO Circularity Alliance on 2 September 2025. The three companies announced this in a joint press release. The trade association thus unites, EU-wide for the first time, producer responsibility organizations (PROs) from various product streams, including batteries, electrical appliances, textiles and other areas.
The aim is to strengthen the role of PROs in
Europe’s circular economy and to make Extended Producer Responsibility (Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR) efficient, transparent and future-proof. Together the three founding members want to create a strong common voice for PROs at the European level and promote cooperation between PROs across all waste streams.
Dr. Julia Hobohm, Chief Executive Officer of GRS Service GmbH, will represent the association as president. She emphasized:
“For producer responsibility to work in practice, strong and effective Producer Responsibility Organisations are needed. With the PRO Circularity
Alliance we are creating a platform that pools experience, promotes innovation, and makes the interests of PROs visible in Brussels.”
The founding takes place against the backdrop of the growing political importance of the circular economy and resource conservation in Europe. With a view to the planned European Circular Economy Regulation, the association aims to actively contribute to the political debate and provide practical solutions for the implementation of EPR systems.
The PRO Circularity Alliance describes itself, according to its own
statements, as an open network that seeks dialogue with European industry associations, political institutions and other stakeholders. Through collaboration, common standards should be developed, efficiency potentials harnessed and the contribution of PROs to a sustainable circular economy strengthened.
First Meeting in Frankfurt
The first official Opening Session of the association will take place on 15 September 2025 in Frankfurt. There, selected PROs from across Europe will come together to discuss the goals, the governance structure and the association’s future work agenda.
