The implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the United States is gearing up, but its future—at least in the short-term—is fragmented. With seven U.S. states in the process of passing EPR legislation, and Oregon having launched its full program this summer (July 2025), packaging producers are having to navigate varying rules, deadlines, and financial obligations. But amid the uncertainty, Sonoco is playing a unique and influential role: helping to shape policy, inform small- and medium-sized consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, and, ultimately, clarify the complexities.

Scott Byrne, Vice President of Global Sustainability at Sonoco North America, explains: “Currently in the U.S., there are seven states that have passed EPR laws. In each state, the laws have similarities—but also many differences—some of them major, others more subtle. That’s the source of most of the complexity as we move forward.”

In many other countries in which EPR has been introduced, such as the UK, EPR is coordinated at a national level. The U.S. approach, by contrast, is state-driven, and this means that the seven states—Oregon, California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington—each have the autonomy to develop their own legislative frameworks. While this approach enables locally effective solutions at a state level, it also introduces major headaches for CPGs who are trying to keep up and comply.

Byrne adds: “Brand owners’ dream is one package for the country, but that’s difficult.”

A trusted advisor

Sonoco—through its involvement with state-level advisory boards that are shaping how EPR systems are structured and implemented—is in a front-facing role, helping packaging producers to navigate compliance, recycling infrastructure, and financial obligations under new rules. 

Byrne is a member of the Oregon Recycling Advisory Council, while Michael Pratt, Senior Sustainability Manager at Sonoco North America, holds a similar position in Colorado.

Pratt comments: “We are literally on the ground, helping those states with feedback from the industry. We’re in a position to say: ‘Here’s what we’re hearing; here’s what isn’t working’ as these programs develop. We’re bridging that gap.”

Sonoco’s expertise is particularly valuable to small- and medium-sized CPGs, who may not have the resources to keep up with the latest regulatory developments. 

Pratt adds: “For the larger CPGs, they probably have a team member in-house—if not a few people—covering this area, but we bring perspective they might not have, particularly when it comes to metal- and paper-based packaging.”

In addition to providing guidance for CPGs, Sonoco acts as an advisor to regulators, as Byrne explains: “We get requests from state regulators asking us: ‘What do we think is the answer for some of these challenges?’”

States and data

With EPR fees varying across states and legislation differing—from who pays what, to which materials are included—the current landscape is complex and continuously moving. In some states, the responsibility is fully on producers; in others, costs are shared with municipalities. Oregon is leading the charge, with its program having launched first. California, meanwhile, is seeking stricter requirements. For example, it has added layers of environmental assessment and recycling performance standards, and by 2032, it will ban all packaging that isn’t recyclable, reusable or compostable. 

Packaging producers also must deal with demands for data. Byrne says: “Getting the material breakdown for all the packaging you put on the market is a huge lift, especially for brand owners with dozens of packaging formats.”

Sonoco is able to provide its expertise in this area, too—by advising brands on how to collect, assess, and report packaging data.

And while the United States still lacks a national EPR policy, Sonoco is optimistic that current efforts will encourage broader harmonization over time. 

Byrne says: “There’s a lot of energy around getting the states to talk to each other and trying to line things up. Right now, there’s just one Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) in the United States—the Circular Action Alliance (CAA)—so there’s a chance for greater consistency through that one platform.”

Despite current complexities, Sonoco is helping to define the EPR landscape and is proving to be a valuable partner for both policymakers and CPGs. 

Pratt notes: “There’s momentum now. We’re here to make sure that our industry has a voice, and that our customers, especially the ones who don’t have a sustainability department, aren’t left behind.”

With even more states proposing EPR programs (Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Illinois all have proposals in progress), but with federal conversations lacking, the road ahead will require cooperation and transparency. 

Sonoco’s involvement, both at strategic and operational levels, will enable it to continue supporting CPGs, as well as helping the United States move toward an efficient—and, eventually, hopefully more siloed—future for packaging compliance.