Packaging EPR Requirements Are Growing. What Does That Mean for Companies

Key Points

• Extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements are expanding globally, including across a growing number of U.S. states.
• Companies face evolving data, reporting and fee obligations as EPR requirements expand.
• UL Solutions offers regulatory expertise, advisory services and software-enabled data insights that can help companies address EPR requirements.

New laws are changing how companies manage packaging and materials after use. More than 60 jurisdictions worldwide have implemented extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, including several U.S. states. Against that backdrop, UL Solutions is expanding its capabilities to help manufacturers, retailers and consumer-facing brands understand applicable requirements, manage packaging data and prepare for evolving compliance obligations.

What is extended producer responsibility for packaging?

Extended producer responsibility, commonly called EPR, places greater responsibility on producers for the environmental impact of packaging and materials. These requirements can include recycling, reporting and other compliance obligations. While traditional product compliance focuses on what is inside a product, EPR shifts attention to what surrounds it and what happens to packaging after use.

Why is packaging EPR becoming an important business issue?

EPR requirements are expanding across the United States. California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington have enacted EPR laws, with additional states expected to adopt similar requirements in the coming years. As these regulations grow in scope and complexity, companies face increasingly fragmented reporting obligations and evolving requirements across multiple markets.

These laws can affect numerous industries, including consumer products, automotive, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing.

What compliance responsibilities could producers face?

Requirements vary by jurisdiction, but companies may need to understand which EPR requirements apply to them, manage packaging-related data, meet reporting obligations and determine applicable fees. As requirements expand across markets, businesses could face increasingly complex compliance responsibilities.

Why is packaging data important?

Accurate data can help companies understand reporting requirements and determine appropriate fees. As businesses manage EPR obligations across multiple markets, software-enabled data insights can help them address increasingly complex and fragmented requirements.

How is UL Solutions expanding its EPR capabilities?

UL Solutions is enhancing its EPR offerings through advisory services, regulatory intelligence and software-enabled data insights. The expanded capabilities are intended to help companies understand applicable requirements, report the right data and determine appropriate fees.

The expansion includes UL Solutions' recent acquisition of Montreal-based Evnia, which brings nearly two decades of experience in regulatory monitoring, reporting and technology-enabled advisory services across Canada and the United States.

UL Solutions is combining those capabilities with its regulatory expertise, packaging testing and verification, and software-enabled data insights to help customers address changing packaging, sustainability and product stewardship requirements.

What does the expanding EPR landscape mean for companies?

As EPR requirements expand in scope and complexity, companies face increasing pressure to manage reporting obligations, evolving legislation and environmental responsibilities across multiple markets. The expanded UL Solutions capabilities are designed to help companies keep pace with regulatory change while managing packaging, supply chain, product stewardship and sustainability responsibilities.

Where can I learn more?

Additional information about UL Solutions' capabilities is available in the Oct. 21 press release.

More details about environmental compliance and UL Solutions' acquisition of Evnia are available in the EPR articleat UL.com.