We are living through a dramatic sea change in packaging. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation and associated environmental concerns are catalyzing significant steps to close the gaps to create a truly circular economy for all primary and secondary packaging for consumer packaged goods (CPGs). And as our packaging landscape changes, with state legislators making waves through newly erected legal boundaries and structures, significant levels of innovation in flexible packaging are following in its wake.

EPR is a legislative policy approach that assigns end-of-life responsibility to “producers” of CPGs. EPR legislation generally addresses single-use plastic packaging, with some rulemaking including guidelines for other materials like paper, metal, and glass. As noted in our recent “2024 State of Converting” report, four U.S. states — California, Oregon, Colorado, and Maine — have passed EPR legislation. In late May, the Minnesota legislature passed its EPR rules, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz shortly thereafter signed the initiative into law. Other states — including Washington, Illinois, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island — will likely finalize and implement EPR legislation before the end of 2024.