EPR Regulations Worldwide: What Every Global Brand Needs to Know Now

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is simple in concept, powerful in impact: it makes producers financially- and sometimes operationally -responsible for what happens to their packaging after it’s sold. The goal: less waste, more recycling, better design.

The idea of EPR was born in Europe in the early 1990s, when countries like Germany and Sweden pioneered the concept of producer-funded recycling. Over the next three decades EPR became the backbone of the EU’s packaging and waste policy, and inspired similar frameworks across the world.

Today, EPR has gone truly global. More than 60 jurisdictions now require producers to fund packaging recovery and report results, from the EU’s harmonised rules to new state-led programs in the United States and ambitious recovery targets in the Philippines.

For multinationals, EPR isn’t just another compliance burden- it’s rewriting the rules of how products are designed and what happens after they’re sold.

‍

One Principle, Many Playbooks

Although every EPR system is built on the same core principle - that producers bear responsibility for the end-of-life management of what they sell - each market has written its own rulebook for how that responsibility works in practice.

Across the world, governments are using EPR to achieve three connected goals:

1. Shift financial responsibility for waste collection and recycling from taxpayers to producers.
2. Create design incentives that favour recyclable or reusable materials over single-use plastics.‍
3. Generate reliable data on packaging volumes, materials, and recovery outcomes.
   
   

But beyond those shared goals, the rules vary dramatically:

• Who the “producer” is changes by market - sometimes the manufacturer, sometimes the importer or brand owner.
• Fee formulas differ, from flat-per-kilogram rates to eco-modulated structures that reward recyclable packaging.‍
• Penalties and enforcement range from stringent audits and fines (as in the EU and Philippines) to softer, guidance-based systems still gaining traction (as in Indonesia).
  
  

These differences make global EPR compliance challenging,  but they also reveal where the system is heading. Mature markets like the EU and UK are focusing on design, data integrity, and recyclability, while newer markets in Asia and Latin America are moving toward measurable material recovery outcomes. For multinational producers, success now depends on balancing a harmonised internal system with local flexibility to meet each market’s expectations.

The OECD describes this diversity as both a strength that allows local innovation, and a challenge that adds cost and complexity for multinationals.

‍

Highlights From Three Ambitious Regions

EPR may be spreading worldwide, but three regions stand out for how they’re shaping the rules.

The European Union has built the most harmonised and design-driven system under its new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), making recyclability and reuse mandatory design goals.  The United States has no national EPR regulations - there is an evolving patchwork of state-level laws that transfer recycling costs to producers while still allowing flexibility in implementation. Meanwhile, the Philippines has emerged as Southeast Asia’s most ambitious model, with legally binding recovery targets that measure actual plastic waste diverted from nature, not just plans on paper.

Together, these frameworks show the full spectrum of what EPR looks like in practice - from data-rich regulation to outcome-based accountability.

‍

Europe: Raising the Bar on EPR

The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force Feb 11 2025, replacing earlier regulation and setting EU-wide design, labelling, and recycled-content rules. The direction is clear: harmonisation with higher ambition.  

PPWR stipulates that by 2030, all packaging in the EU must be recyclable. The regulation includes a ban on single-use plastics in various industries, sets phased targets for making packaging more recyclable and compostable, requires increased use of recycled materials, and introduces new rules for labelling. It will also implement design rules to minimise weight and volume of packaging, introduce re-use and re-fill targets, and set strict limits on certain chemicals in food packaging (European Commission). Learn more about PPWR here.

The key elements of PPWR include:

• Recyclability. By 2030, all packaging placed on the market must be recyclable. There are also are mandatory targets for incorporating recycled content into packaging materials. For single-use plastic beverage bottles, the recycled content target will increase progressively, reaching up to 65% by 2040 (Food Packaging Forum). 
•  Reuse and Refill Targets: PPWR sets targets to reach 10% reusable beverage containers by 2030, increasing to 40% by 2040, with various exceptions for wines, spirits, and milk. Distributors with a retail area larger than 400 m² will have to allocate at least 10% of their store to refill stations by 2030. 
• Recycled Content: The PPWR sets minimum targets for the percentage of recycled content across several categories of packaging that increase over time. For example, 30% of single-use plastic beverage bottles should be made of recycled material by 2030, rising to 65% in 2040. ‍
• Substances of Concern: Producers must minimize the use of substances like heavy metals, BPA, and PFAS in packaging.

Takeaway: Treat EU compliance as your “gold standard.” Build your data model and processes to that level, then adapt locally.

United States: State-Led Momentum

The United States has no federal EPR law for packaging, but momentum is accelerating at the state level, where a growing number of legislatures are passing their own frameworks. As of 2025, seven states - Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington - have enacted packaging EPR laws, each with its own timeline, definitions, and fee structures.

Although details vary, these state programs share common goals:

• Shift recycling costs from local governments to the producers who place packaging on the market.
• Standardize data reporting and packaging definitions to improve transparency in recycling performance.‍
• Incentivize design improvements through eco-modulated fees that reward recyclable or reusable packaging.
  

Most states designate a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) - in most cases, the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) - to administer compliance, collect fees, and oversee data and recovery systems. Producers must register with the PRO, report the volume and composition of packaging they sell in each state, and pay fees proportional to their footprint. Rollouts stretch into 2026–2030, with California and Oregon first in line.

Key program features across US states include:

• Material-based fees: Higher charges for non-recyclable or hard-to-process packaging materials.
• Mandatory EPR registration and annual reporting: Producers must submit detailed packaging data and pay annual fees to the PRO..
• Public education and recycling targets: States such as Oregon and Colorado require outreach to improve consumer recycling participation.‍
• Phased implementation: Early reporting (2025–2026) will inform full producer payments by 2027–2028.
  

Takeaway: Data model must be adapted to each state’s different EPR requirements.

The Philippines: Southeast Asia’s EPR Pacesetter

The Philippine Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022  is one of Southeast Asia’s most ambitious and measurable EPR frameworks. It targets plastic packaging waste generated by large enterprises and aims to drastically reduce plastic leakage into the environment.

The law requires large companies - defined as those with total assets over ₱100 million (US$5.5 million) - to recover and divert a set percentage of their plastic footprint each year, scaling from 20% in 2023 to 80% by 2028.  Covered entities include brand owners, manufacturers, and importers that use plastic packaging for their goods.

Under the Act, companies must:

• Register their EPR program with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
• Submit an annual EPR plan outlining how they will reduce, collect, divert, or offset plastic waste.
• Implement verified recovery mechanisms, such as buy-back programs, take-back schemes, or partnerships with accredited waste recovery organizations. The country’s EPR law includes six upstream and six downstream strategies, including verified plastic clean up credits. PCX offers access to audited plastic recovery projects across a variety of projects that meet these requirements. 
• File annual audit reports certified by third-party auditors, documenting recovery performance against targets.‍
• Support reuse and reduction initiatives, including redesigning packaging for durability, increasing recycled content, and minimizing single-use plastics.
  

Non-compliance can lead to financial penalties, suspension of permits, or disqualification from government programs.

Unlike many EPR laws that focus mainly on reporting, the Philippine framework emphasizes measurable outcomes - how much plastic is actually recovered - and verifiable data.

Key strengths of the Philippine model include:

• Quantified recovery targets escalating yearly.
• Integration with circular-economy incentives, such as the use of certified plastic credits.‍
• Government oversight and transparency through DENR audits and reporting.
  

This results-based approach makes the Philippines a regional leader in EPR design, linking compliance directly to environmental impact. Read more on our blog post here.

Takeaway: Plan for evidence. You’ll need verified collection data, third-party audits, and transparent reporting - best developed now, not retrofitted later.

‍

Global Patterns: Harmonised vs Fragmented

EPR regulations are converging around a shared principle - that producers should fund the recovery and recycling of what they sell - but the way each country implements that idea still varies widely.

In regions with mature recycling infrastructure, like the EU and UK, policymakers are now fine-tuning EPR to drive better design and higher circularity through harmonised data and fee systems. In newer markets, such as parts of Asia and Latin America, frameworks are still being built, often without unified definitions, reporting calendars, or enforcement capacity. 

The scope also varies - some cover only plastic packaging and single-use plastic, while others include the actual products that contain plastic, too. 

For global companies, that means one thing: consistency in intent, complexity in execution. EPR everywhere requires data, reporting, and fees - but how those are calculated, audited, and penalised differs sharply. Understanding these patterns helps brands build one scalable system while staying agile for local nuances.

Bottom line: The global direction is converging, but the pace and precision differ.

‍

How to Plan for Multi-Market Compliance

1. Map your footprint. List every market where your products or packaging are sold. Flag where EPR laws are live, proposed, or under consultation.
2. Build a single data backbone. Use consistent product and packaging identifiers (GTINs), weights, materials, and supplier proofs.
3. Localise the last mile. Keep one global playbook for processes and roles, but customise for each jurisdiction’s filings, portals, and fees.
4. Pilot before you scale. Test your reporting flow in one mature market (EU or UK) and one emerging market (e.g., Philippines) to stress-test systems.‍
5. Use EPR data to design smarter. Link fee data to packaging choices so designers can cut costs and improve circularity.
   
   

The Takeaway

EPR is gaining traction worldwide as governments grapple with plastic pollution. The principle - put the cost and responsibility of waste management on producers - is here to stay.

The challenge now is not whether to act, but how to build one scalable system that can adapt to local laws without reinventing the wheel each time.

When companies get that right, EPR stops being a compliance burden and becomes a strategic tool for better packaging, lower fees, and measurable circular impact.

To learn more about how PCX can help your company meet your plastic responsibility goals, visit us at www.pcxmarkets.com.

‍

Stay compliant across every market.

PCX’s software and regional experts make global EPR reporting less of a scramble. See how →

Explore our EPR essentials series:

• EPR 101: A Guide to Extended Producer Responsibility
• EPR Reporting Made Simple: The Core Data Every Producer Needs to Capture
• Design Smarter, Pay Less: How Eco-Modulation Makes EPR Work for Your Bottom Line
• EPR Regulations Worldwide: What Every Global Brand Needs to Know Now
• The New Global Rulebook for Plastic Packaging: Understanding EPR Across Markets

‍

FAQ: Understanding Global EPR

Q1. What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?
EPR is a policy that shifts the cost and responsibility for managing post-consumer waste, like plastic packaging, from governments to the companies that make or sell the products. In practical terms, producers register with local authorities or Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), report their packaging data, and pay fees that fund collection and recycling or responsible processing..

Q2. Why is EPR gaining traction worldwide?
Governments are under pressure to tackle plastic pollution and fund recycling systems without relying on public budgets. EPR lets them do both. The OECD and other policy bodies see it as one of the most effective “polluter pays” tools - encouraging design innovation while driving investment into recycling infrastructure.

Q3. How many countries have EPR laws now?
As of 2025, more than 60 countries have EPR laws covering packaging, plastics, or specific product categories - up from just a few dozen five years ago. Adoption is accelerating across Asia, North America, and Latin America, often starting with plastics packaging before expanding to other materials.

Q4. Are all EPR systems the same?
No - each market defines its own rules.

• Europe: Most harmonised, especially under the new PPWR.
• United States: State-by-state frameworks coordinated through the Circular Action Alliance (CAA).
• Asia: Rapidly developing, with the Philippines leading on enforcement and quantitative recovery targets.
•  Some systems have strong penalties and audits; others are still evolving enforcement capacity.
  

Q5. Does EPR cover only packaging?
Packaging is the most common starting point, but many regimes already cover products like electronics, tires, textiles, and batteries. The trend is toward expanding EPR beyond packaging as countries strengthen circular-economy laws.

Q6. Q7. How should multinationals prepare?

• Start with a single global data model 
• Assign clear roles and responsibilities 
• Localise reporting for each market’s requirements (EU schemes, UK portals, U.S. CAA, PH DENR audits)
• Use EPR data to drive packaging design improvements and reduce future fees
• See how PCX can help with EPR compliance across markets 

Q8. What’s the business upside of doing EPR well?
Strong EPR systems don’t just keep you compliant - they generate insights on packaging performance, cost, and circularity. Companies that master their EPR data can design lighter, more recyclable packaging and often reduce EPR fees while improving ESG scores and brand reputation.