State legislators are spearheading the effort to lessen pollution from plastic and packaging
Maine passed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for single-use plastics and other limited-use packaging materials in the middle of July, making it the first state to do so. The production and disposal of food and beverage packaging will be directly impacted by the legislation, which is a part of a trend that is accelerating.
The EPR idea assigns producers and other companies involved in the development and distribution of materials of concern shared responsibility, including expenses, for end-of-life product management. Currently, the responsibility for properly disposing of packaging materials after use is shared between states, municipalities, private waste management companies, and consumers. EPR aims to promote modifications to product designs that reduce adverse effects on the environment and public health.
At the end of a product’s life cycle, the concept of shared responsibility is not new. Numerous governments and localities have initiatives in place to deal with the removal of paint, carpets, beds, medications, and other items that are considered dangerous.
The focus of EPR proponents has moved as concern about the effects of waste from single-use plastics and other materials on the environment has grown. For instance, in Maine, producers are required by law to fund initiatives and take greater accountability for the packaging they place on the market.
On August 9, Oregon passed the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, making it the second state to enact EPR legislation. Brand owners that sell foodservice ware, paper goods, and packaging in Oregon are required by law to participate in stewardship
groups and pay fees to assist in enhancing and growing the state’s recycling initiatives. There are also pending EPR laws in the states of California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York that address packaging waste.
In a survey done for the Consumer Brands Association, Ipsos showed that 84% of 1,530 American adults specifically indicated concerns about plastic and packaging waste, while 80% of respondents said they were concerned about the environment in general. The survey found that concerns about packaging waste were shared by all generations, with baby boomers being the most concerned (87%), followed by Gen Z (85%), millennials (83%) and Generation X (79%).
Manufacturers of food and beverages are creating new types of sustainable packaging in response to the growing levels of concern. For the Coca-Cola Companyfor instance, testing a prototype paper bottle across Europe. Working with the French business Carbios, a group of CPG companies comprising Nestle SA, PepsiCo, Inc., Suntory Beverage & Food Europe, and L’Oreal is developing food-grade plastic bottles made completely of enzymatically recycled plastic.
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Though promising, it will take years for these initiatives to grow and expand. Customers are currently concerned about the effects of plastic packaging on the environment, as evidenced by the CBA/Ipsos poll. They are looking for quick fixes and are making progress thanks to state-level legislation.
The food and beverage industry has a vested interest in standardizing these state-level schemes in order to create a national recycling initiative. Companies will currently have to deal with a patchwork of state-levelsolutions that might not meet the rising expectations of customers.