Regulars / Sustainability | 29Extended producer responsibility explored in ColoradoTLMI invited Colorado’s EPR leader to speak to its members about landmark legislation being implemented in the state that could impact the wider US label industry, writes Rosalyn Bandyhis year, TLMI’s annual meeting took place in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor Resort. Nearly 500 people gathered to network, learn, socialize and get updates on Timportant issues impacting the label and packaging industry. Being in Colorado was special for so many reasons, but one that was particularly interesting to me is that Colorado is the frst state in the US to adopt extended producer responsibility (EPR). It seemed only ftting to invite the state’s EPR leader, Darla Arians, to address TLMI members and help us understand EPR and prepare for what brands and retailers may start asking for.than a linear take-make-waste system need this increase in “The policy helps to build a more recycled-content supply. While there is no silver bullet fx, EPR has the potential to increase the availability of this transition. resilient domestic supply chain. A few of the key milestones that Colorado’s EPR program has underway are the following: This is a precedent not only for 1. In September 2023, an independent third party was hired Colorado but for the entire country”to conduct a needs assessment of all the state’s recycling services and recycling needs. The report is due to the advisory We learned a lot from Arians’ excellent presentation. EPR shifts board by 2024.the responsibility of recycling upstream to the producer and away 2. In 2025:from municipalities. It often includes incentives for producers a. Convenience standards, state-wide recycling, collection to take into consideration the weight and recyclability of their and post-consumer recycled content rates will be decidedpackaging when designing their products. b. The funding mechanism through collecting producer Colorado’s landmark EPR program is designed to increase responsibility dues will be established, including covering recycling and make recycling programs consistent and more the organization’s costs in implementing the program and convenient across the state. (With over 9,000 different recycling the costs of overseeing the program. programs in the US, it’s no wonder we’re all confused). With cost c. A formula to reimburse 100 percent of the net recycling being the biggest hurdle for current recycling systems, the state’s service costs of public and private recycling service providers recycling programs will now be funded by the producers’ annual will be established. dues, rather than municipalities and taxpayers. Eco-modulation is d. A list of covered materials will be established that also included in Colorado’s EPR program. This is the concept that providers must collect to be eligible for reimbursement the cost to producers will be modulated downward if they design under the program. their packaging to be recyclable. While EPR legislation is considered an environmental policy, it’s With these fnancial incentives for companies to reduce also a business policy. unnecessary packaging and move toward using more reusable and Producers will become responsible for their packaging when it recyclable packaging, the policy helps to build a more resilient becomes waste. The eco-modulation incentive will no doubt lead domestic supply chain. This is a precedent not only for Colorado to lightweighting packaging to reduce fees and, in doing so, reduce but for the entire country. material costs, and increase the success of many sustainability With greenhouse gases (GHGs) such an important issue, programs. increasing recycling and using recycled content in products can I hope that not only will EPR data be tracked on the increase in cut 75 to 80 percent of the energy required to manufacture new recycling rates, but also on how much GHGs been reduced through materials like plastic, aluminum and glass. This is equivalent the program. to taking 1.8 million cars off the road each year. Our daily use packaging materials are created from materials that have to be Rosalyn Bandy is VP of sustainability for TLMI. mined, go through numerous upstream industrial processes, then For more information about TLMI sustainability, have to be transported long distances; often across the globe. contact Rosalyn.bandy@tlmi.com. For information Using recycled content eliminates all this upstream energy and the about TLMI membership, contact Engagement resulting GHGs. Director, dale.coates@tlmi.comCompanies that are now focused on circularity rather Oct - Dec 2023