Packaging EPR 101: Understanding Producer Responsibility​

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is reshaping how companies manage packaging compliance globally. Here’s what organizations need to know: 

• The regulatory shift is accelerating: Seven U.S. states have enacted packaging EPR laws as of early 2026, with eight more actively considering legislation. Globally, more than 60 countries now operate EPR systems for packaging that span from mandatory compliance programs to voluntary pilot initiatives. 

• Non-compliance carries substantial risk: In the United States, companies face daily fines ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the state, plus potential loss of market access and public listing as non-compliant. 

• Early preparation creates competitive advantage: Companies that build scalable compliance systems now will be better positioned as EPR expands to new markets, while those reacting to deadlines face operational friction and financial penalties. 

Strategic Overview: What is EPR? 

EPR is an evolving global framework that fundamentally shifts financial and operational responsibility for end-of-life product management from municipalities to producers. Under EPR, producers now pay fees based on the packaging they place on the market and in some cases must meet specific recycling or compostability requirements. This change affects the entire value chain including product design decisions, supply chain operations, and annual compliance reporting across dozens of jurisdictions. 

The approach a company takes to EPR determines whether compliance becomes a manageable process or an ongoing source of operational friction and financial risk. Non-compliance carries significant financial penalties, ranging from daily fines to market access restrictions. 

Producer responsibilities manifest in three core obligations: 

• Registration and Reporting – Producers must register with authorized entities and submit detailed data on packaging materials sold, including material type, weight, and destination market. 

• Fee Payment – Producers pay stewardship fees based on their packaging footprint, with fee structures varying by material recyclability and jurisdiction.  

• Multi-Jurisdiction Management– Companies selling into multiple markets must comply with different regulatory frameworks, each with unique producer definitions, covered materials, and compliance timelines.  
   

The EPR landscape: U.S. and Global Overview 

EPR regulations now exist across multiple countries and U.S. states, with more expected to implement programs in the coming years.  

United States: Rapid Expansion Across States 

In 2021, Maine became the first state to enact comprehensive packaging EPR legislation. Since then, adoption of this type of regulation has accelerated. 

As of early 2026, seven states – including Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington – have enacted packaging EPR laws. 

Several additional states – including New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island – are actively considering EPR legislation. (See Fig. 1) 

Most state programs require producers to join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), typically the Circular Action Alliance (CAA), which manages compliance, fee collection, and system operations on behalf of member companies. While membership in the CAA provides a centralized compliance pathway, the specific obligations that producers must meet vary significantly by state, with different registration deadlines, reporting requirements, fee structures, and covered materials. 

Global: An Established International Standard 

Looking beyond the Unites States, EPR has long been active in the E.U., Canada, and the U.K., with other countries launching EPR pilots. More than 60 countries globally now have some form of EPR for packaging, representing a widespread policy trend toward producer-funded waste management. The global nature of EPR means that companies with international operations must navigate multiple regulatory frameworks simultaneously, each with distinct requirements and compliance pathways. (See Fig. 2) 

How to Prepare: The Path to EPR Compliance  

Early preparation allows time to build scalable processes across multiple programs.  The following steps outline how producers selling into the U.S. can prepare for multi-state EPR compliance: 

Step 1. Determine Producer Status by Jurisdiction 

Evaluate your producer status in each state, as definitions vary significantly. EPR laws define “producer” differently across jurisdictions. Common definitions in the U.S. include the brand owner or the first importer of packaged products into the state’s market. An entity’s status may differ by state depending on the business structure and supply chain operations. Some EPR programs exempt small producers based on revenue thresholds or packaging volume. These exemptions may vary by state. 

Step 2. Document Covered Packaging  

Identify all products with packaging that fall under EPR regulations in each state where you operate. This includes primary packaging, secondary packaging, and shipping materials. You will need to collect specific data on units sold in each state and report material type, weight, and volumes on a state-by-state basis. 

Step 3: Implement Data Collection Systems  

Identify what level of data granularity each program requires. In the U.S., EPR programs require packaging data reported by material type, weight, volume, and destination market. Establish robust data collection systems early to ensure accurate reporting and fee calculation. 

Step 4: Calculate EPR Fee Obligations 

Calculate your annual EPR fee obligations based on packaging material type, weight, and in some cases recyclability. Fee schedules are published annually by PROs or government agencies. Build these costs into your financial planning and budget accordingly 

Step 5: Build Multi-State and Multi-Region Compliance Capabilities 

Each U.S. state with EPR legislation has established unique producer definitions, exemption criteria, and compliance timelines. Create state-specific compliance strategies must be tailored to each framework. 

Map out the regulatory differences across counties where you operate. International EPR compliance means managing multiple regulatory systems with different legal definitions, PRO structures, and fee calculation methods. Develop compliance capabilities that can flex across these different regulatory models. 

Detailed Breakdowns 

State by State EPR Breakdown and International EPR Breakdown of EU, CA, UK. 

Moving Forward: EPR Readiness and Planning 

EPR represents both a regulatory requirement and a business cost that requires proactive planning. Companies that prepare by building scalable data systems, understanding multi-jurisdictional requirements, and integrating compliance into operational planning will avoid the costly responses that come from reacting to deadlines. As EPR regulations expand to new states and countries, companies with established compliance infrastructure will adapt more quickly and at lower cost. 

Get started today. 

Schedule a consultation with our EPR compliance experts to: 

• Determine potential producer applicability and compliance requirements by jurisdiction 

• Assess your current packaging footprint across all markets 

• Build a scalable compliance roadmap for current and future EPR requirements 

• Calculate your fee obligations and integrate them into financial planning