PFAS are a chemically diverse family of over 10,000 synthetic fluorinated compounds, all containing at least one carbon-fluorine (C–F) bond. This makes them highly persistent and earns them the nickname "forever chemicals."...more
First effective in 2024, the Act bans the sale or distribution of various products that contain intentionally added PFAS chemicals. On January 1, 2026, as part of the product phase-out timeline, the new law bans the sale or...more
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40), the European Union’s new regulation concerning the packaging of products placed on the European market (PPWR), came into force on 11 February 2025....more
2025 has been a busy year for extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy, especially for packaging and paper products. States have enacted new EPR programs and laws to assess the need for EPR. Existing programs have been...more
Le 4 juin 2025, le ministère de l’Environnement, de la Protection de la nature et des Parcs de l’Ontario (le « ministère ») a proposé plusieurs modifications au Règl. de l’Ont. 391/21 : Boîte bleue (le « Règlement »). Ces...more
Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation, also known as EPR laws, is a policy-based approach that holds producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, particularly for take-back, recycling, and final...more
Influenced by laws in existence in multiple states, including California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington, the New York State Legislature has examined in recent years extended producer...more
Key Takeaways - What Is Happening? On March 7, 2025, Governor Newsom declined to adopt CalRecycle’s initial draft regulations under California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act...more
Key Takeaways - - Effective January 1, 2026, products must meet far more stringent requirements to be labeled as "compostable" or "home compostable." - Most packaging currently labeled as compostable is not compliant with...more
A lot is going on in the extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) packaging world this month. Maryland and Washington became the sixth and seventh states respectively to enact EPR packaging laws. And this week, just a...more
In 2021, California enacted the SB 343 – “Truth in Recycling Law” – which generally prohibits companies from using the “chasing arrows” symbol or otherwise implying that a product or package is recyclable, unless the...more
With Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging laws rapidly expanding across the U.S. and globally – producers, retailers, and sustainability leaders are facing unprecedented pressure to prepare for a new wave of...more
On April 4, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) published its final material characterization study report, starting the clock for compliance with Senate Bill No. 343 (SB 343), also...more
On April 4, CalRecycle published its final material characterization study (Study) pursuant to SB 343. Under SB 343, use of the chasing arrows symbol or other indications of recyclability on products or packaging that do not...more
All Wrapped Up is a newsletter that tracks and analyzes key developments in extended producer responsibility laws for packaging. It is a subscription-based resource for King & Spalding clients who sell or distribute just...more
Two significant developments have recently emerged concerning California’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law, SB 54, which aims to phase out single-use plastics. The landmark law for packaging and plastic food...more
For the past four years, multiple states have worked to pass laws (called Extended Producer Responsibility laws, or “EPR”) that reallocate the burden of dealing with end-product waste (and related recycling efforts) to the...more
The food and beverage industry is in the midst of a dynamic and challenging time, marked by more regulatory scrutiny, evolving consumer awareness, and unrelenting litigation. Three key trends could potentially drive...more
Key Takeaways - What is happening? Packaging waste has received heavy attention from lawmakers in recent years. A growing number of states are adhering to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Recycled Content...more
Our Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources and Food & Beverage Groups examine the growing industry compliance impact of states’ extended producer employer production responsibility (EPR) laws....more
On November 21, 2024, Massachusetts enacted legislation likely to accelerate its adoption of new extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation. Tucked into a new climate law (find a separate alert on the law here),...more
In an important development for the sustainability movement, Oregon and Colorado are implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws that shift the responsibility for managing packaging waste to the manufacturer. The...more
On December 2, 2024, California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (“CalRecycle”) released proposed regulations for California’s extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) packaging and food service ware program –...more
Four years after the nation’s first extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws set out approaches to making producers financially responsible for managing the disposal of plastics and packaging, 2025 will see...more
Beginning in May of 2026, owners of brands selling packaged products and importers of foreign-produced packaged products sold in Maine will be required to adhere to Maine’s Stewardship Program for Packaging. Beginning six...more