Let's Talk EPR: What EPR Packaging Laws Mean for Your Pallet Wrap.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. EPR laws and reporting requirements vary by state and may change over time. Businesses should consult legal counsel or a qualified compliance professional to determine how these requirements apply to their organization, products, packaging, and distribution activities.

If you buy, sell, or use stretch film to package and move goods, you've likely heard the term EPR popping up in supply chain discussions.

While state packaging regulations are expanding fast, understanding what they mean for your operations doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here is a clear breakdown of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), how it affects both end-users and packaging distributors, and the practical steps you can take to organize your packaging data.

What is EPR?

Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR laws shift packaging recycling and waste-management responsibility to the companies that place packaged goods into certain state markets. For many businesses, this may create new requirements to register, report packaging data, and pay program fees based on the type and amount of packaging used.

Why Does This Matter?

EPR laws are already active or developing in several states, including California, Colorado, Oregon, Maine, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington. Requirements vary by state, and some deadlines have already begun. Some states may exempt certain business-to-business industrial, or transport packaging. Others may include commercial packaging more broadly. Because the treatment of stretch film can vary, customers should review their obligations by state.

What Does "Producer" Mean?

In EPR laws, "producer" usually means the legally responsible party for packaging placed into a state's market. This is not always the company that physically manufactured the packaging material. In most cases, the responsibility falls to the company introducing the packaged product or packaging material into the marketplace.

For stretch film, the responsible party is generally the company that applies the film to package, palletize, protect, ship, or sell its own products into a state with EPR requirements, based on that state's specific law.

What Should Customers Review?

Customers should work with their legal, compliance, or sustainability teams to determine:

• Where they sell or distribute packaged goods

• Whether their company is considered the producer

• Whether stretch film, pallet wrap, shrink film, or other transport packaging must be reported

• What packaging data is required for registration or reporting

• Whether any exemptions apply

How Sigma Can Help

Sigma Stretch Film cannot provide legal advice or determine a customer's reporting obligations. However, we can provide product and material information that may support EPR review and reporting. Your Sigma Stretch Film Sales Professional or Client Account Specialist can help provide documentation that may be helpful to your EPR preparations.

A complete catalog of our product brochures, spec sheets, and technical documents can be found at https://www.sigmastretchtools.com/resource-center

The Perfect Time for Rite-Gauging®

Now is the perfect time to analyze your packaging operations and ensure you are using the correct type of film, gauge of film, and wrap pattern to efficiently wrap your pallets without excess waste or damage in shipping. Contact your Sigma Stretch Film Sales Professional today to schedule your Rite-Gauging® analysis!