Better Print, Better Planet: Extended Producer Responsibility in the US: How It’s Reshaping Packaging and Print
Sustainability has become a defining force in packaging and in print. Governments are aligning with consumers in calling for producers to take greater responsibility for what happens to their products after use. That idea forms the foundation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a policy that shifts the cost of waste management from cities to the companies that make and sell products. Under new state laws in Maine, Oregon, and California, producers now help fund recycling and recovery programs through fees and reporting requirements. “EPR is forcing companies to rethink their role in the lifecycle of packaging,” says Jeff Wettersten, Vice President of Packaging at Keypoint Intelligence. “It’s no longer enough to design for performance alone. Producers are now being asked to design for recovery, reuse, and long-term environmental impact.”
