Rethinking EPR: Impacts and Challenges for Packaging and CPGs with Lisa McTigue Pierce

SNEED-CAST Presented by Sneed Coding Solutions

Lisa McTeague Pierce, Executive Editor at Packaging Digest, explores Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and its impact on the packaging and CPG industry in a recent episode of SNEED-CAST. EPR shifts packaging waste management costs from consumers to producers, but Pierce highlights its early-stage flaws, including inconsistent state regulations, consumer cost burdens, and missed recycling opportunities. She discusses state-specific legislation, like Oregon's framework, and compares global initiatives such as Europe’s Green Dot. Pierce critiques EPR’s inefficiencies while suggesting alternatives like bottle bills and closed-loop recycling systems. This insightful discussion offers valuable recommendations for navigating evolving sustainability legislation.