With 35+ years of experience across the food science and packaging spectrum, Dr Claire Sand, owner and founder of Packaging Technology & Research, helps clients achieve more sustainable packaging,  increase shelf life/prevent food waste, leverage food packaging innovations, address food package optimization and serves the food and packaging industry as a food packaging expert witness adjunct professor columnist for Food Technology and Packaging Digest   Want to know more about how this article affects your business? Reach out to Dr. Sand on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairekoelschsand   Want to keep learning from Dr. Sand? View more of her presentations and articles at https://www.packagingtechnologyandresearch.com/insights.html   Dr. Claire Sand | Owner, Packaging Technology & Research, LLC; Adjunct Professor, CalPoly and Michigan State University; Columnist for Food Technology Magazine and Packaging Digest http://www.packagingtechnologyandresearch.com/

1. How to
Achieve EPR-
Forward
Packaging
April 2024
Connect with me at 612-807-5341 or
claire@packagingtechnologyandresearch.com
Dr Claire
Sand’s article
in IFT’s Food
Technology
Magazine

4. Making EPR a Success in the United States
The environmental and social aspects warrant con
sideration. The economic impact of recycling in
the United States is estimated at $70.3 billion,
with the actual material value of recycled mate
rials representing only 11% of the impact. Other
impacts are larger, with 31% environmental value
associated with reducing greenhouse gas emis
sions and 58% social value associated with wages
and economic development (euomia 2023).
More than 115 EPR policies across 33 states in
the United States cover 14 categories, including mat
tresses, electronics, mercury thermostats, and batteries.
EPR tariffs for package collection will be funded only
in states that have adopted EPR. However, the pack-
age design and materials selected by national brands
based on EPR will be used nationwide. "Packaging
specific EPR has been inevitable in the USA for almost
35 years," notes Calvin Lakhan, research scientist and
co-investigator of the "Waste Wiki" project at Canada's
York University. "Since consumers use and dispose
of packaging more frequently than longer-use items
with EPR, such as electronics, packaging EPR will
have a more intimate social impact on consumers."
As a result, focusing on both environmental and
social aspects is critical for developing a success-
ful EPR program. However, the social aspect ofEPR
is often overlooked, Lakhan explains."On the social
front, we must ensure that the EPR investment is
worthwhile. However, this isn't always the case, and
financial accountability is necessary." For example,
Recycle BC's EPR program for printed paper and pack
aging has been touted as a resounding success.
The program, based in British Columbia,
Canada, boasts recovery rates for plastics
more than 97%, and more than 99.2% of the
population has access to recycling services.
However, Lakhan says that the numbers may not
be what they appear. "Since 2015, the recovery rate per
capita in British Columbia has decreased by 7%, while
the cost of recycling per household has increased by
53%.Essentially, we are paying more to recycle less.
Activity-based costing is critical for ensuring that EPR
investments yield results." EPR fees are frequently
passed on to consumers, he says, and thus are
a regressive tax. Even though EPR tariffs for
packaging are low-for example, two-tenths
of a penny for a polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) bottle and one-tenth for an alu minum
can-the fees generated must be used to
maximize benefit (Lakhan 2021).
Julia Willsie, senior sales execu
tive, Mill Rock Packaging Partners,
adds, "The amount and type of packaging
that the collection and sorting system must han
dle vary dramatically by region. Recycling centers
adjust to local populations and resources and must
be profitable while meeting local regulations."
As a best practice, needs assessments ensure that the
social aspects ofEPR are addressed. For example, before
developing EPR legislation, Oregon conducted a needs
assessment to ensure that EPR could effectively address
the collection and sorting dynamics unique to Oregon's
urban and rural regions. Chaz Miller, CEO of Miller
Recycling Associates, says the needs assessment showed
a lack of processing capacity throughout rural Oregon.
''As a result, the law stressed the need to consolidate and
transfer recyclables to larger MRFs [materials recov-
ery facilities] in the state's more populated areas."
Miller adds that because there is no national
authority in the United States to implement EPR,
"[it] will be implemented at the state level, with
needs assessments possible to ensure that EPR aligns
with different needs in different states." For exam
ple, Maryland SB 222, which took effect in May 2023,
requires statewide needs assessment to be presented
to an advisory council, which will then submit rec
ommendations by December 2024 for developing a
scheme law by 2025. Conducting a needs assessment
will also allow for harmonizing EPR legislation with
implementation specifics aligned with state needs.
As Groner noted about the EU, encouraging recy
cling is critical for EPRin the United States to succeed.
Creating incentives and nudges for people to recycle must
include all households and economic and social groups.
There is room for improvement. For example, recycling
rates for paperboard and corrugate are 38%-55%, even
though 94% of households have access to curbside recy-
cling. Tennessee ranks 48th in the United States for
recycling, with only 5% of all packaging being
recycled. Gary Cohen, a Reimagine Packaging
Coalition committee member, explains
how work is underway to increase recy
cling. "Our Tennessee coalition is working
hard to pass EPR bill SB0573/HB0550 by
focusing on the social aspects of job and indus
try creation, cleaner air, rivers, roads, forests, parks,
and stormwater systems, due to less litter," he says.
A First Step in Preparing for EPR
As EPR gains traction in the United States, pack-
aging EPR programs implemented in more
than 40 countries can be used as guides to
improve recycling processes and labeling.
However, scaling up recycling is a chal
lenge. Although insights into process and
labeling can be gained, there is no global or
U.S.-centric EPR harmonization forecasted. Fee
www.ift.org I Food Technology 57

7. • Claire Sand is a Global Packaging Leader with 35+ years of broad
experience in the food and packaging science spectrum in industry -
from basic research to marketing - and in academia - tenured
professor and director.
• Sand's mission is to enable a more sustainable food system with
science and value chain innovations that more sustainably increases
food shelf life and prevents food waste.
• She solves packaging and food industry challenges using a blend of
packaging and food science and value-chain expertise.
• Dr. Sand holds a PhD in Food Science and Nutrition from the
University of Minnesota and MS and BS in Packaging from Michigan
State University.
Questions?
Let’s Connect!
Call 617-807-5341 or email
claire@packagingtechnologyandresearch.com
www.PackagingTechnologyandResearch.com