EPR Packaging Laws Explained & Practical Solutions for Manufacturers

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New laws are changing how manufacturers think about packaging in the United States. With more environmental responsibility falling upstream, businesses that manufacture, import, distribute, or sell packaged goods may be impacted by Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws. These new regulations can directly impact material selection, reporting systems, supplier relationships, costs, and potentially adhesive use.

Worried about how this impacts you? At APPLIED Adhesives, we understand the impact EPR packaging laws may have on our customers. Below is some helpful information about how EPR laws work, how they relate to adhesives, and practical adhesive solutions that may help.

What Are EPR Laws and Why Do They Matter?

Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, laws are a series of environmental regulations that make businesses more responsible for the entire life cycle of their products. In the United States, these regulations are enacted by states and can vary.

Traditionally, waste management was overseen and managed by municipalities, waste haulers, and recycling entities, but EPR programs shift the financial and operational responsibility for end-of-life management of packaging material to “producers.” This term typically refers to the company that places products on the market but can be defined slightly differently based on the specific law. Under EPR packaging laws, producers must fund and support the end-of-life management of packaging, including its disposal and recycling.

Many producers are required to join a Producer Responsibility Organization. Typically, producers must report their packaging data and pay fees based on the packaging materials they place on the market. Generally, the lower the environmental impact of the packaging materials, the lower the fees. This fee structure encourages businesses to choose more environmentally responsible packaging practices. Some EPR laws for packaging also include enforcement provisions that can lead to escalating fees or fines if companies fail to register, report, or participate in required programs.

What States Are Impacted by EPR Laws?

While EPR laws require companies to take measurable responsibility for packaging waste, each state has slightly different regulations.

As of late 2025, the following states have enacted packaging EPR legislation:

  • California
  • Washington
  • Oregon
  • Colorado
  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • Maryland

Manufacturers based in one of these states must follow these regulations, but even if they are not located in one of these states, manufacturers may still be subject to these laws if they sell, distribute, or ship packaged goods into a state with an active EPR program. It is important to review the state EPR packaging laws in which you operate.

As of late 2025, the following states are considering similar EPR legislation:

  • Connecticut
  • Nebraska
  • New York
  • Illinois
  • Hawaii
  • Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • New Hampshire
  • Oregon
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont

For the most up-to-date information, you should check state-specific government sites for EPR news.

How EPR Affects Packaging Design

A majority of EPR laws relate to packaging design, packaging materials, and the amount of packaging you use. They also play a role in the fees that are assessed. EPR programs base their fees on material categories such as paperboard, plastics, metals, or glass. Difficult-to-recycle materials and multi-material packaging may lead to increased fees.

Some EPR-driven packaging improvements may include:

  • Reducing unnecessary secondary packaging (e.g. shrink wrap)
  • Eliminating hard-to-recycle components such as shrink bands or mixed-material laminates
  • Increasing post-consumer recycled content where feasible
  • Designing for easier separation of components
  • Aligning packaging formats with widely accepted curbside recycling streams

APPLIED EPR-Friendly Adhesive Solutions

Many manufacturers focus on packaging materials, but adhesives are an often-overlooked aspect. Some adhesives may offer an alternative to less environmentally friendly packaging practices or influence packaging waste.

For over 50 years, APPLIED Adhesives has worked with manufacturers to address their packaging adhesive needs and provide customized solutions. While the packaging industry is still navigating the new EPR laws, our team can offer some potential adhesive solutions that may support EPR packaging law requirements.

Optimize Your Adhesive Use

packaging adhesive applicationWhen thinking about EPR alignment, ensure you are optimizing your adhesive use. You should review your bond requirements and dispensing practices to ensure you are not overapplying material. Simple adjustments such as changing dispensing patterns, adjusting temperature settings, or calibrating equipment can reduce usage without sacrificing bond strength.

Optimizing adhesive application may also reduce overall packaging mass. For EPR models that calculate fees by weight and material category, this reduction can be important.

At APPLIED Adhesives, we offer adhesive efficiency audits to evaluate your adhesive processes and offer suggestions to optimize your adhesive use. Reach out to learn more about an adhesive efficiency audit.

Select a More EPR-Friendly Adhesive Formula

Adhesive formula selection can be another critical component of aligning with EPR packaging regulations. Your adhesive formulation may influence both recyclability and total packaging weight.

In corrugated packaging, sustainable adhesive solutions like biodegradable or recyclable options may help support your EPR goals. Biodegradable adhesives break down naturally to help reduce long-term waste, while recyclable options help reduce contamination in recycling streams compared to traditional petroleum-based adhesives. In labeling applications, certain adhesives may help reduce contamination during plastic recycling. Some hot melts are also formulated to allow lower application weights while still achieving the same bond strength.

With an extensive portfolio of packaging adhesive solutions, our adhesive experts can make recommendations that are tied to your production process, EPR goals, and budget.

Replace Other Packaging Materials with Adhesive

In some cases, adhesives can act as an alternative to heavier or less sustainable packaging materials and may be able to reduce your long-term costs.

Pallet stabilization is one area where adhesives can replace traditional packaging materials. Palletizing adhesives can stabilize loads while significantly reducing the amount of stretch wrap and dunnage needed. Especially in high-volume operations, using palletizing adhesives can reduce packaging waste while lowering the overall packaging material weight.

APPLIED’s proprietary BREAKAWAY palletizing adhesive system is eco-friendly and designed to reduce plastic waste, stabilize products during shipping, and improve overall safety. By applying BREAKAWAY in a fine and minute amount to cased products, this adhesive prevents the stacked, wrapped cases from shifting and falling during transit while also reducing shrink wrap usage.

See how one company was able to eliminate 14 airbags per truckload with BREAKAWAY pallet adhesives.

Hot melt adhesives can also be a replacement for excessive amounts of tape in end-of-line packaging applications while still delivering strong, consistent bonds. They can often improve line efficiency and may also lower the total weight of packaging that must be reported for EPR laws.

How to Align Packaging and Adhesives with EPR

At APPLIED Adhesives, we are continuously monitoring these regulations and how they impact our customers. Based on what we have learned so far, our team is sharing a few tips that may help you work toward your EPR goals.

1. Identify Where You Have Producer Responsibility
To determine which EPR laws apply to you, map the states where you sell or ship packaged goods and confirm whether you qualify as a producer under each law.

2. Audit Your Packaging Bill of Materials

Break down each SKU into primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging components, including your adhesive use. If your packaging bill of materials is incomplete or inconsistent, meeting EPR requirements can become difficult quickly.

3. Evaluate Recyclability and Eco-Modulation Exposure

Assess whether certain formats, adhesives, or material combinations may increase fees or complicate recycling.

4. Prioritize Redesign Opportunities

Target high-volume SKUs first. Small design changes at scale often deliver the greatest results and cost impact.

5. Engage Suppliers Early

Work with adhesive and packaging partners who understand recyclability testing, sustainability standards, and state-specific requirements. At APPLIED Adhesives, we are committed to supporting our customers through EPR law changes and helping them find the right adhesive solution.

As EPR legislation becomes more refined, your packaging requirements are likely to change. Regularly review your adhesive usage, recyclability compatibility, and packaging material use so you can adapt as needed.

Looking for Adhesive Help?

If you have concerns about your adhesive use or are looking for EPR-friendly adhesive solutions, our team wants to help. APPLIED can provide an adhesive efficiency audit to evaluate and optimize your adhesive use. If you have questions about how your current adhesive choices fit into this changing landscape, we are here to help answer your questions and provide support as these EPR laws continue to evolve. Contact us to get started.

 

FAQs

Which states currently have packaging EPR laws?

At the end of 2025, Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington have enacted comprehensive packaging EPR legislation. There are additional states considering similar laws.

Who qualifies as a “producer” under EPR regulations?

In most cases, the manufacturer that introduces the packaged goods into a state market is considered the producer under EPR packaging laws and carries responsibility. Producers may also refer to importers, licensees, and sometimes retailers, depending on the exact law. Because definitions vary from state to state, you should review each state’s specific criteria.

Do adhesives count toward EPR reporting?

While adhesives are typically a small portion of overall packaging weight, they may influence recyclability classifications and contribute to the total amount of packaging material reported under EPR requirements.

What is eco-modulation?

Eco-modulation adjusts producer fees in EPR packaging laws based on packaging sustainability characteristics such as recyclability, recycled content, and design complexity.

How should we start preparing for packaging EPR laws?

There is still confusion about who must comply with these laws and how. To start, confirm if and where you qualify as a producer. Even if EPR laws do not apply to you just yet, a packaging audit and implementing more sustainable packaging practices can help put you ahead of the game. Working with an experienced adhesive partner (like us at APPLIED Adhesives) may also help you find solutions quickly.

While this article is meant to provide some general guidance on following EPR packaging laws, regulations continue to evolve, and requirements change frequently. You should verify your specific obligations with state agencies or approved Producer Responsibility Organizations.