What packaging teams should know about EU PPWR packaging requirements
The EU PPWR introduces “Design for Recyclability” performance grades that become stricter over time. (See Annex II, Tables 1 & 3, for detailed charts). By 2030, all packaging placed on the EU market must be graded for recyclability. Importantly, a brand’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees will be linked directly to recyclability performance. Better grades […]
What plastic credit auditors look for: A guide for compliance leads
As a Compliance Manager, it’s helpful to know what third-party auditors check during an actual on-site audit. When you’re deciding to purchase plastic credits, understanding how projects are audited can give you confidence that plastic credit projects meet regulatory compliance standards. I’m a project manager for plastic credit projects under the Verra Plastic Waste Reduction […]
How to choose a producer responsibility organization (PRO) in 2026
Raise your hand if you’re a brand that sells consumer packaged goods! 🙋🏽♀️ Depending on where your market is, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws now require you to pay for the waste management of the single-use-packaging that you put out into the world. In many regions, that means working with a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) […]
UK EPR deadlines 2026: Key dates, reporting rules and compliance risks
If you’re a brand in the UK and you use packaging, the new UK extended producer responsibility (UK EPR) regulations affect you. The system can feel confusing at first. But compliance is possible even without specialist software. Below is a practical overview of the UK EPR deadlines 2026, registration process, reporting requirements and recycling obligations. […]
California SB54 EPR Fees Explained: How Material Choices Affect Producer Costs in 2026–2027
California Senate Bill 54 (SB54), the state’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), law is one of the largest and most complex EPR programs in the world. The legislation is designed to push brands to reduce, reuse, and redesign their packaging by directly linking material choices to producer fees. Under SB54, companies that place packaging on the […]
COP30 brand takeaways from Belém: what matters for packaging EPR and plastic recovery
Belém, the host city of COP30, has become a vivid symbol of climate disruption. From extreme heat to deforestation and plastic waste pollution flooding low-lying communities, Belém shows the consequences of the linear “take–make–dispose” model at full scale. For brands working in sustainable packaging, these realities make COP30 a turning point. As Brazilian Indigenous groups […]
INC 5.2 Plastic Treaty Negotiations: What just happened?!
Introduction At this historical moment in the plastic crisis, it’s nearly impossible to sidestep mounting plastic pollution. Piles of plastic waste accumulate in neighborhoods and coastlines across the world. An estimated USD 15 trillion in investment is needed between 2025 and 2040 to reduce global annual mismanaged plastic volumes by 90 percent relative to 2019 […]