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Posted: July 29, 2025
Gartner predicts 75% of firms will replace voluntary sustainable packaging goals with legislation compliance by 2028. As EPR laws expand, businesses face rising costs, complex requirements, and supply chain changes. Proactive adaptation could secure compliance and competitive advantage in an increasingly regulated environment.
By 2028, three out of four companies with voluntary sustainable packaging targets are expected to drop them in favor of packaging EPR legislation requirements, according to new research from Gartner, Inc. The shift is being driven by mounting regulatory pressures, with Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) urged to prepare their profit and loss owners for potentially millions of dollars in new costs. Gartner also predicts that by the end of 2024, 90% of public sustainable packaging commitments will remain unmet, largely due to the continued use of plastics and single-use materials. With packaging rules tightening globally, meeting extended producer responsibility (EPR) standards will demand significant investment in data systems, package redesign, and compliance measures.
Several U.S. states have already enacted packaging EPR laws, part of a growing global policy trend shifting the financial burden of packaging waste to producers. Under these laws, organizations must register with a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that oversees waste collection, recycling, and compliance reporting. Producers are required to provide detailed information on materials, quantities, and recyclability while navigating differing requirements across regions. Failure to prepare for these rules could mean costly PRO fees, fines, material changes, and supply chain adjustments.
Legislation is now reshaping product and packaging strategies, often replacing considerations of cost and consumer appeal with strict sustainability and reuse mandates. For CSCOs, the message is clear: adapt supply chains for reusable packaging, accelerate redesign cycles, and integrate regulatory demands into product development to avoid higher costs or market access issues. Companies that proactively design for circularity, align materials with available recycling infrastructure, and ensure suppliers can meet sustainable material needs will be best positioned. Those embracing packaging EPR legislation early may not only safeguard compliance but also gain a competitive edge in an increasingly regulated market.
