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Sustainable Packaging Targets: A Shift Towards Legislative Alignment
Key Points:
- Consulting firm Gartner predicts that approximately 75% of organizations that set voluntary sustainable packaging targets will phase out those goals by 2028.
- Companies are now focusing on aligning their strategies with emerging legislative guidelines, such as extended producer responsibility laws, instead of meeting their 2025 packaging commitments.
- Gartner recommends companies to proactively adapt their sustainability strategies to avoid potential negative consequences like increased costs associated with EPR.
Insight:
Gartner’s latest projection highlights the industry’s transition from voluntary goals to legislative alignment in sustainable packaging targets. Many companies are expected to fall short of their 2025 sustainability commitments.
The shift towards legislative compliance is driven by regulations like extended producer responsibility laws, which are reshaping companies’ sustainability strategies. The impact of such legislation is evident in discussions within the industry, signaling a significant change in the packaging sustainability space.
Global companies are also navigating various EPR regulations worldwide, with Europe’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation playing a significant role in shaping sustainable packaging goals.
While states in the US are still in the early stages of implementing packaging EPR programs, companies are actively seeking to understand and comply with these evolving regulations. The challenge lies in staying ahead of legislative changes and integrating them into long-term packaging strategies.
In addition to legislative alignment, Gartner suggests accelerating packaging redesign cycles and adapting supply chains for reusable packaging systems. Consumer-level reuse programs are also gaining traction, aligning with the evolving regulatory landscape.
As companies pilot and implement these initiatives, the focus is on meeting legislative requirements and fostering sustainable practices throughout the packaging lifecycle.