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

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.