Thomas Estock is director of Sustainability at ORBIS Corporation, where he develops, implements, maintains and identifies continuous improvement opportunities of ORBIS’ environmental, social and governance programs and strategies, while supporting ORBIS and its stakeholders to achieve their sustainability objectives and goals.
Reusable Packaging Gains Ground Under EPR
EPR – or extended producer responsibility – is legislation where producers (brands, manufacturers and suppliers) are responsible for the end-of-life costs associated with their products, encouraging sustainable design and smart packaging infrastructure. At least seven U.S. states have enacted packaging-focused EPR laws, each with its own timeline and compliance goals. Photo: Suranto Wibisono / iStock / Getty Images Plus.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws are prompting food manufacturers to rethink packaging systems, with reusable transport packaging emerging as a tool for compliance, cost control and sustainability.
In states where EPR laws are in progress, businesses will be responsible for the control of packaging throughout its entire lifecycle, including reporting, collection, recycling or reuse, shifting the financial and operational responsibility of packaging waste from municipalities to consumer brands or packaging producers.
Reusable transport packaging is designed for durability, resulting in a long service life and repeated cycles. At end-of-life, most packaging of its type is fully recyclable, creating a true circular packaging option for today’s food manufacturers as they ship products within their supply chain.
Food manufacturers can transition to an integrated reusable transport packaging program to support these goals and eliminate single-use packaging materials such as corrugated boxes, plastic film, strapping and limited-use pallets.
How reusable material handling and packaging can support operational and environmental goals.
How Reusable Packaging Impacts EPR Compliance
It’s important for traditional food brands to educate themselves on the business impact of EPR laws and how they can develop efficient ways to move their product in the supply chain, from food plants to the retail aisle.
Most EPR frameworks focus on single-use, consumer packaging and expendable packaging materials. A transition toreusable transport packaging supports compliance by eliminating the need for expendable and single-use packaging.
In the U.S., reusable transport packaging helps food manufacturers comply with EPR through scope reduction and more efficient reporting.
For example, when a food manufacturer uses reusable packaging, it is often excluded from the scope of EPR reporting, whereas expendable shipping materials are still in scope. It also simplifies reporting since reusable packaging fleets are easily tracked and auditable.
A crucial first step for organizations is to audit and understand their current packaging management process. This includes an analysis and assessment of their supply chain and current packaging materials, including reusable transport packaging and waste management practices.
The analysis assessment needs to be cross-functional, to include representatives from packaging providers, sustainability, packaging design, operations, legal and compliance, finance and logistics, to ensure all aspects of EPR are addressed.
EPR Influencing Design Decisions
In response, consumer brands are investigating feasible design options to eliminate and reduce packaging and are also looking to transition to reusable packaging systems, which supports EPR compliance.
The shift to reusable transport packaging reduces packaging volumes that are subject to fees and meets reuse and return-rate goals, while keeping materials at their highest utility, value and in circulation for many cycles through the supply chain.
Looking ahead, effective and ideal EPR systems and frameworks should provide clear and consistent requirements, set measurable expectations and reward companies that prioritize waste prevention, minimization and an eventual transition to feasible circular economy products and models.
