Exploring Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging Laws

Dive into the evolving world of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging in the United States and 60+ nations with our series of EPR-related research articles. Please direct any questions about content or EPR programs to our Marketing & Sustainability Lead—Mitch Webster: marketing@packagingschool.com

The Latest EPR for Packaging Lessons

Mitch Webster

Key EPR for Packaging Dates in 2025: United States

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging can be overwhelming—to help you stay ahead of the curve we decided to expand upon our EPR for Packaging content series with a short piece highlighting the key dates you need to know in 2025 for programs in Oregon, California, Colorado, Maine, and Minnesota.
2025/03/05
Mitch Webster

Exploring Eco-Modulated Fees in EPR for Packaging in the USA

It’s no secret that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging is set to reshape the U.S. packaging industry, leaving many producers and packaging companies concerned about increased reporting and compliance requirements, fees, and other obligations. However, a key upside of EPR lies in its Eco-Modulation programs, which incentivize sustainable design practices and innovative packaging choices. In this blog we will explore the eco-modulation systems in EPR programs in Oregon, Colorado, California, Maine, and Minnesota.
2024/11/01
Mitch Webster

Extended Producer Responsibility Laws for Packaging Around The World

The year 2024 has seen monumental regulatory shifts in the global packaging industry–one area in particular relates to that of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) refers to a regulatory approach in which the producers of packaging (and other products) in a defined territory are made responsible for managing the waste and externalities associated with their products—shifting the burden of packaging waste management from consumers and municipalities to the producers themselves. A large percentage of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation includes requirements for identified producers to join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)—often an industry led non-profit focused on working collectively to meet targets, collect and allocate fees, and more.
2024/02/23
Mitch Webster

Exploring EPR for Packaging in North America

In this blog, we cover the emerging and established frameworks for extended producer responsibility (EPR), that include packaging in their scopes, in the North American continent (including Carribean and Latin America). We cover the EPR programs and timelines of US states, Canadian provinces, Costa Rica, and The Dominican Republic.
2024/05/03
Mitch Webster
Alli Keigley

Exploring EPR for Packaging in Africa

In this research article we explore extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs that cover packaging in their scope across the continent of Africa. We cover South Africa's Section 18 regulations to the National Environmental Management Waste Act and Kenya's Section 13 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act No. 31. We also get insider information from folks at PROs including Fibre Circle and eWASA who serve as PROs for South Africa's EPR scheme.
2024/06/07
Mitch Webster

Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging in Canada

As 2024 continues, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging in the United States continue to hit new milestones, but none are currently collecting fees from producers. In anticipation of looming reporting and fee deadlines in 5 US programs, let's explore the implementation of EPR for packaging in several Canadian provinces and learn how our neighbors in the north are managing packaging waste and externalities with EPR.
2024/10/30
Mitch Webster

EPR for Packaging in South America

In this blog we explore the extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs that include packaging in their scope in the continent of South America—including Brazil, Colombia, Venezeula, Peru, Uruguay, and Chile. We explore how packaging waste is managed, funded, and collected in 6 nations and how to prepare your business for these laws.
2024/05/29
Mitch Webster
Alli Keigley

The Evolution of Germany's Packaging Waste Laws

In November of last year we covered extended producer responsibility (EPR) bills in the USA that have emerged the past few years, but did you know that Germany has had an extended producer responsibility system for packaging since the early 1990s? Germany has shifted from VerPackV to VerPackG and they have set the model for extended producer responsibility programs that have followed. Germany was not only one of the first countries to implement an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system, they also experimented with 2 different approaches—The German Packaging Ordinance (1991–2019) and The German Packaging Act (2019—Present).
2024/01/08
Mitch Webster
Alli Keigley

The Evolution of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD)

In this lesson we will discuss the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), a complex set of regulations and guidelines established to manage packaging lifecycle, including design and disposal, across 27 EU nations.
2023/12/27
Mitch Webster

Why LCA is Essential for EPR Compliance in Packaging

In this article, we give more insight into life cycle assessments (LCA) for packaging and how they can be an effective tool to ensure compliance with extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging.
2024/08/16

EPR for Packaging Around the World

EPR for Packaging in North America

EPR for Packaging in Africa

Eco-Modulated Fee Status in US EPR programs.

Boost Your Sustainable Packaging IQ Through Microlearning

The world of sustainable packaging can get complex, and rather quickly. That's why we developed a catalog of sustainability-related courses to help you navigate the dynamic world of sustainable packaging design.
Bioplastics for Packaging (with Dr. Sandeep Kulkarni)
1
11
ELEC-E07
An online course that provides an introduction to the area of bioplastics and offers guidance on the usage of these materials for packaging applications.
Included with certificate
$200
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Sustainability in Automotive Packaging
2
18
APC-A08
This course is a fully online, self-paced program designed for both seasoned and novice professionals in the automotive industry. This course is part of the Automotive Packaging Certificate program.
Included with certificate
$399
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Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors
6
39
CC-01
Enhance the sustainability of your packaging decisions with this course. Gain practical tools, resources, and methods to improve decision-making and minimize environmental impact immediately.
Included with certificate
$399
Enroll Now
Sustainable Packaging
4
39
CPS-C11
Explore sustainable design with this course: learn Life Cycle Assessment, energy sourcing, design optimization, and recovery, balancing people, planet, and profit.
Included with certificate
$399
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