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Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach that makes manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, including disposal and recycling. This framework shifts the financial and operational responsibility for waste management from local governments to the producers. In turn, EPR incentivizes more sustainable product design, promotes a circular economy, and reduces overall environmental impact.
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Your labeling choices play a key role in making your packaging as circular as possible. Our experts can help you make informed decisions to ensure compliance with the complex regulatory requirements, select materials aligned with design-for-recycling principles and strengthen your packaging performance and brand reputation.
The impact of EPR
The global landscape of EPR is evolving rapidly, with various regions implementing schemes to hold producers accountable for the end-of-life management of their packaging. These regulations require companies to finance the collection, sorting, and recycling of their packaging materials.
Who is leading the way?
Europe, Japan, and South Korea are leading the way with comprehensive, high-maturity EPR systems. These regions have well-established schemes with mandatory fees and recycling targets that vary by packaging type. The EU is currently transitioning from national laws to a unified regulation (the PPWR), which will standardize rules across member states.
EPR in Asia
Several countries in Asia are also advancing their EPR frameworks. India uses a market-based system where producers purchase EPR credits from certified recyclers to meet their obligations, with prices fluctuating based on market demand for different plastic types. The Philippines has an EPR law targeting large enterprises, requiring them to recover a progressively increasing percentage of their plastic packaging waste each year. China does not have a universal EPR scheme for all packaging but enforces specific mandates, such as requiring courier and e-commerce companies to manage the recovery of express-delivery packaging starting in June 2025.
EPR in North America
In North America, there is no federal EPR law for packaging. Instead, regulations are being implemented at the state level, creating a varied landscape. States like California, Colorado, Oregon, and Maine are at the forefront, with producer registration and data reporting obligations being phased in before fee collection begins.
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