While EPR is gaining global popularity, it is not implemented in all countries or across all countries yet. Several reasons hinder a broader implementation of the strategy. In general, setting up EPR schemes requires political, legal, financial, and organizational efforts and poses challenges to the socio-economic system. From a business perspective, for example, EPR might shrink profit margins for companies and increase administrative processes. At the same time, increased product costs could also pose a potential threat to current material living standards. In addition, while establishing a new value chain among collectors, sorters, and recyclers aims at establishing a more sustainable economy, it can also threaten the informal sector. These are only three prominent examples of potential challenges associated with the implementation of EPR at a national and an international level. In sum, we consider EPR if implemented at a global level, as a powerful strategy to support a transformative change toward a circular economy that contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To advance its national and international implementation, however, it is necessary to sharpen the overall understanding of EPR and develop applicable solutions to the challenges related to EPR, with a focus on its transformative potential. For this purpose, it is also important to understand the economic and social contexts related to specific products (e.g., plastics, batteries, electronic devices) into account in which EPR is implemented. Within this context, the TES Academy at the German Environment Agency (UBA), together with UBA EPR experts initiated a process of exchange and mutual learning on EPR in the international context. 25 experts from administrations, academia, NGOs, international organisations and companies joint the first workshop in this process. Participants joined from a number of European countries, Africa and North America. The process is intended to continue for about 10 months with two more in-person workshops and a set of joint activities in between (see next steps below). The process will be open for additional actors to join.