Expert Insights

In recent years, extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws have been gaining momentum in the United States as a strategy to improve our waste management infrastructure and promote sustainability. These laws place the obligation on manufacturers and producers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including end-of-life disposal or recycling. As EPR regulations continue to evolve and expand, companies must adapt to stay compliant and leverage these changes as opportunities for innovation, circularity, and market leadership. 

In our Unpacking EPR series, so far, we’ve explored the fundamentals of extended producer responsibility (EPR) and why it matters for brand owners.

As explained in the first article of our Unpacking EPR series, several states have passed extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation that requires producers to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products. EPR is a policy approach that shifts the responsibility for managing post-consumer packaging collection, logistics, and recycling from local governments to the producers. Compliance with these laws is essential in order to avoid legal penalties and continue operating in these markets.