EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) legislation, which is being brought in in individual states of the US along with the EU, shows the blueprint for how governments can and will hold businesses accountable for the role they play in climate change.

The traditional linear model that our economies operate under sees up to 4 trillion pieces of packaging created every year and over 90% of that is manufactured from virgin materials. Producer responsibility for that packaging has typically ended at the point it hits the shelves but EPR changes that. As the name suggests these new legislations are extending producer responsibility to encompass the entire lifespan of a piece of packaging. This puts the financial burden for packaging that cannot be recycled and ends up in landfill, firmly in the hands of the producer (our clients).

The potential implications on business are extensive, threatening how traditional supply chains operate and risking future growth.

EPR reflects a new reality that all industries will need to navigate, and that cannot be achieved effectively using traditional methods. The way forward requires a fresh approach; circular design thinking and innovative packaging and supply-chain solutions. While upfront investment both in time and money will be unavoidable, they will help safe-guard the future security and financial success of business in the long-term – a fact already proven by those businesses leading the way.