Dan Felton Executive Director of Ameripen, the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discussing extended user responsibility (EPR) policies for consumer packaging.
 
Ameripen operates as the only material-inclusive and science-focused trade association in the United States and represents the entire packaging industry supply chain.
 
Felton’s testimonial highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to develop and implement effective shared responsibility solutions for packaging recycling and recovery in the U.S. 
 
Felton addressed the ways Ameripen supports public policies aimed at recovering and reusing as much packaging as possible. Ameripen values results that are effective, equitable, efficient and fair. 
 
“We will support thoughtful packaging EPR proposals that properly balance the needs of all stakeholders,” Felton testified. “We will not support poorly designed packaging EPR proposals that we believe are not based in reality and will not result in positive environmental change and greater packaging recovery and recycling.”
 
Separate state-enacted EPR bills restrict effective policies, causing a lack of consistency that decreases efficiency and challenges brand owners. 
 
“A deeper discussion is merited on how uniformity may be achieved if packaging EPR continues to expand in the U.S., and whether something could or should be done at the federal level,” Felton added. “To that end, Ameripen would be pleased to work with federal policymakers and other stakeholders to explore the potential need and design for any federal framework or program.”
 
Felton shared several thoughts on potential elements for any federal packaging EPR program or framework that could effectively improve packaging recovery and recycling in the U.S. 
 
See the Senate EWP Committee website for more information on the hearing. 

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