Dan Felton, President & CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce (E&C) Subcommittee on Environment during a hearing about recycling innovation and economic growth.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce (E&C) Subcommittee on Environment focuses on the regulation of solid, hazardous, and nuclear wastes, including mining, nuclear, oil, gas, and coal combustion waste. 

After introducing FPA, the leading advocate and voice for the growing U.S. flexible packaging industry, Felton gave an overview of what flexible packaging is, cited several industries and products using flexible packaging, and highlighted the value of flexible packaging.

“Flexible packaging is one of the most sustainable packaging types, as it reduces water and energy consumption, improves product-to-package ratio, enhances transportation efficiency, minimizes food waste, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” said Felton.

Felton then spoke about recycling and proposed to the subcommittee several public policy issues on which FPA is focused to increase flexible packaging recycling through innovation and economic growth, and that could benefit from federal government support. This includes the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (RIAA) and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (RCCA) currently under consideration in Congress; advanced recycling technologies; the use of recycled content in flexible packaging; and support for a federal law for the labeling of packaging for compostability, recyclability, and reusability.

“FPA believes that properly constructed and executed extended producer responsibility (EPR) program laws for packaging are one public policy mechanism that could significantly assist with increasing flexible packaging recovery and recycling in the U.S. through additional funding and infrastructure,” said Felton. “While these laws are not all created equal and some are arguably overreaching in their goals and requirements, FPA is proud to have publicly supported the enabling legislation in Maryland and Minnesota as vehicles we believe have real potential to promote a critical and necessary shift in flexible packaging recycling in the U.S. while not placing overburdensome requirements or restrictions on flexible packaging manufacturers and users.”

“FPA is deeply committed to solving packaging waste issues and increasing the recyclability and recycling of flexible packaging,” Felton testified. “We are collaborating with manufacturers, brand owners, recyclers, retailers, waste management companies, and other organizations to continue making strides toward total packaging recovery.”

Felton’s entire written testimony for the hearing can be found here.

To watch the hearing, click here.