State-Level “Extended Producer Responsibility” Programs Prompt Innovations Like Reusable Wine and Beer Bottles

For food and beverage companies, the biggest goal has always been to get products into the hands of consumers. What happens, though, to packaging and other waste after those products have been enjoyed? In a growing number of states, that question is prompting legislation that creates Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, which engage the companies that create products in planning—and paying—for their afterlife as recycled materials, compost, or other options more sustainable than going to a landfill. Here’s what you need to know now.

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What is an EPR program?

EPR legislation is designed to shift some of the financial responsibility of single-use materials waste to companies. Typically, these programs require large manufacturers to join and pay fees to a nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO). The PRO transfers funding to government entities for recycling programs, infrastructure, education, and other strategies to manage waste. These programs also incentivize important advances in reduced and reusable packaging. 

Programs like this have become common in Europe, and in the past few years, seven U.S. states have passed EPR legislation: California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington. More states are expected to follow suit, and while the initial focus of this legislation is large companies, increasing attention is being paid to the waste-related impacts of companies at every scale. And the exciting innovations emerging from EPR programs have the potential to reshape the food and beverage industry and make it easier for all of us to minimize the generation and impact of waste.

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How EPR programs are changing producer packaging and consumer expectations

EPR programs include improvements to waste management systems and incentives for new systems such as for reusable packaging. EPR and the even-more targeted bottle bill in Oregon, a state that’s a leader in beverage production, is accelerating the growth of a refillable bottle program for wineries and breweries. Reusable glass bottles can offer an 85 to 95 percent reduction in emissions vs. single-use bottles, and the Oregon program has created an efficient return network. In contrast, recycling programs capture less than 30 percent of the 16.2 billion glass bottles used each year. The refillable bottle program is an exciting option for regional beverage producers to provide their products and for consumers to enjoy them in a way that reduces the overall waste created as well as associated carbon emissions. As other state-level programs continue to develop, we hope innovative reuse systems like this are included.

Whether or not your state has passed this kind of legislation, EPR is raising the bar on waste management, providing new opportunities, and incentivizing the use of more sustainable packaging. Improving your packaging and diverting waste from landfills can have a positive impact on your bottomline, aligning with consumer preferences as well as potential regulation in the future. ClimateHound has fine-tuned tools to help food and beverage businesses assess current packaging and pursue lower-impact options. We’re here to partner with you and protect the planet!