How Brands Are Helping Improve Recycling
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a system that holds brands responsible for what happens to their packaging and products after people use them.
EPR encourages companies to make their products easier to recycle – and better for the environment.
Under EPR, brands team up to make recycling better. They join a nonprofit group called a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), which helps build a stronger recycling system
One of those groups is Circular Action Alliance (CAA), which runs RecycleOn and supports companies that sell paper and packaging. Other EPR laws cover items like batteries, mattresses, paint, electronics, and more.
Currently, seven states have passed EPR laws for paper and packaging:
When you recycle, your items don’t just disappear. After pickup, they’re sorted and sent to “end markets”, the companies that turn recyclables into new products.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws help make the system more accountable and transparent. These laws often require tracking and audits to make sure recyclables are recycled the right way.
It’s all about building a circular economy you can trust.