EPR programs are expanding but operating differently across Europe and the United States. Join Trioworld on June 10 for a practical webinar on what's changing, why it differs by market, and what packaging producers need to know now.
WEBINAR ON DEMAND | Policy to Practice
Packaging EPR is expanding on both sides of the Atlantic. But the rules are developing differently, and the near-term deadlines are converging. This session brings together EU regulatory, North American industry, and operational packaging expertise to cut through the complexity. Watch the recording to understand what is changing, what is required, and what your business should be doing about it now.
What you will take away from this session:
1. How PPWR is changing producer responsibility in Europe. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is introducing a harmonised definition of producer across EU member states, with modulated fees linked to recyclability performance. National systems are not disappearing, but the rules around responsibility and fee calculation are converging.
2. Why there is no single rulebook in the US. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) has passed in seven US states, each with its own definitions, timelines, and targets. California's 2032 targets are the most consequential near-term benchmark, requiring 100% recyclable or compostable plastic packaging, a 25% source reduction target, and a 65% recycling rate for single-use plastic packaging.
3. What the August 2026 PPWR documentation deadline means for your business. From August this year, European manufacturers are required to complete a formal compliance assessment and hold documentation of compliance. Suppliers into those manufacturers must provide the information needed to support that process.
4. Why collection alone will not meet recycling rate targets. Recycled material that has been collected and sorted still needs a buyer. Without active demand for post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, the economics of recycling break down regardless of how well collection systems perform.
5. How stretch film affects your total EPR fee exposure. Stretch film typically represents less than 1% of the plastic packaging on a pallet. But the right film enables lightweighting across the entire packaging system, reducing the total volume placed on market and directly lowering EPR fee obligations in regulated markets.
6. Why a market-by-market compliance approach no longer holds. Global companies need packaging strategies that flex across regions. A compliance approach built for Europe will not map cleanly onto the US, and vice versa.
Warehouse image of skids of plastic bottled beverages
WHY THIS MATTERS
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is no longer a future consideration. It is actively reshaping how packaging is designed, used, and paid for across markets. In Europe, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is introducing a shared framework across member states, setting common rules on recyclability, reuse, and recycled content. But how those rules are applied still differs by country, and the pace of implementation varies significantly.
In parallel, the United States is building its EPR system from scratch. Seven states have now passed legislation, each with its own programme, rules, and timelines. California is the furthest advanced, with legally defined 2032 targets covering recyclability, source reduction, and recycling rates. Meeting California's requirements is broadly seen as the most effective way to prepare for compliance as other state programmes mature.
For companies operating across both markets, the central challenge is the same: building a packaging strategy that holds up across different regulatory environments without sacrificing operational performance or cost efficiency.
This session features perspectives from regulatory, industry, and operational specialists across Europe and North America.
Public Affairs and Regulatory Director, Trioworld
Lena has nearly 30 years of experience working with business policy and sustainability issues in the plastics industry, including extensive work in EU and national politics. Her focus has included reducing resource consumption, increasing recycling, minimizing littering, and ensuring safe chemical handling. Before joining Trioworld in 2022, she spent many years at IKEM, the industry and employer organization for innovation and chemical industries. She holds an engineering degree in materials technology and a PhD in polymer technology from KTH.
Headshot of Lena Lundberg
Interim Executive Director, U.S. Plastics Pact
Crystal brings nearly two decades of supply chain experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, where she developed a focus on circular economy and recycled plastics. Today she leads the U.S. Plastics Pact's progress toward its Roadmap 2.0 targets, helping companies advance circular design and post-consumer recycled (PCR) commitments while driving systems-level change to increase the collection and recycling of plastic packaging.
Headshot of Crystal Bayliss
Technical Training and Product Specialist, Trioworld
Drew brings a strong technical sales background from several demanding industries and quickly found a passion for stretch wrappers and film performance at Trioworld. He focuses on the details of how film behaves and how equipment settings influence load quality, working directly with customers to troubleshoot issues and test real‑world improvements. His hands-on approach helps deliver packaging solutions that achieve stronger loads and smoother operations. Drew is also a skilled video producer, editor, and on-camera trainer—familiar to anyone who has watched Trioworld’s training videos.
Headshot of Drew White