Seven U.S. states now have active EPR laws for packaging, and 2026 is the year deadlines converge. On May 31, six states require supply reports simultaneously — with more launching programs later this year.
For pet brands, the compliance challenge has its own wrinkles. Multi-component packaging like pouches, flexible film, blister packs, and pump-top supplements each create distinct reporting obligations. Co-packed products add another layer when your contract manufacturer controls the supplier relationships. And California’s new source reduction requirements — including a 25% plastic reduction target with no adjustment for sales growth — add complexity that didn’t exist a year ago.
Lowell Huffman, Director of Channel Partnerships at rePurpose Global, will share what he’s seeing across 100+ brands navigating multi-state EPR, with a focus on the packaging types and compliance scenarios most relevant to the pet industry.
He’ll cover where brands are getting tripped up, how the reporting requirements differ across states, reporting timelines, and how to think about EPR as a long-term operational commitment rather than a one-time reporting exercise.
Whether you’re just learning that EPR applies to your products or you’re already in the reporting process and hitting walls, this session will give you a practical roadmap for what’s ahead.
Lowell is a regulatory and compliance strategist with nearly a decade of experience navigating the intersection of sustainability, public health, and policy. Prior to joining rePurpose Global, he specialized in Drinking Water Quality and Sustainability, delivering over 500 hours of CEU-certified training across 33 states. Lowell brings a field-tested, education-first approach to regulatory engagement. Today, he’s focused on demystifying U.S. Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and helping brands turn compliance into a force for good.
Resources:
- https://www.repurpose.global/guides/2026-epr-compliance-checklist
- https://www.repurpose.global/blog/2026-epr-deadlines-complete-guide
- Send this to your suppliers when you’re asking them for data: https://www.repurpose.global/blog/the-suppliers-guide-to-epr-what-your-customers-are-asking-for-and-why
- Join us at unPacked on April 29 – https://app.livestorm.co/repurpose-global-2/unpacked-base-camp-to-may-31
- repurpose.globa/resources
- All about Source Reduction – https://www.repurpose.global/blog/californias-plastic-source-reduction-mandates
Learn more about today’s sponsors:
- http://worldpetassociation.org/
- https://www.repurpose.global/
Learn more about PSC:
- https://petsustainability.org/
- info@petsustainability.org
- https://petsustainability.org/news/events/