Earlier this year, the Council of Ministers published project number UC100 which officially launched Poland's Draft Act on Packaging Waste. The proposed legislation represents one of the most significant overhauls of Poland's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to date. The adoption of the Act is planned for the third quarter of 2025, with a ...

Across Europe, Deposit Return Schemes are increasingly recognised as an effective approach to reduce plastic pollution and encourage recycling.A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is a waste management system in which consumers pay a refundable deposit upon purchasing beverages in bottles or cans. The deposit is reimbursed when the empty container is returned to...

Extended Producer Responsibility legislation is expanding rapidly across the globe, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most transformative years yet. From new packaging reporting rules in the U.S. to the introduction of EU-wide textiles EPR, producer obligations are growing in both scope and complexity.For sustainability and compliance professionals,...

At Lorax EPI, ensuring data accuracy has always been at the forefront of our mission to help businesses navigate evolving EPR obligations with confidence. As global packaging regulations grow more complex, the need for high-quality, actionable data has never been greater. That's why we're thrilled to announce that we now have two exciting partnerships wit...

In Part One of this blog series, we explored how Australia is using post-consumer recycled (PCR) content policies to drive progress toward a circular packaging economy. Now moving over to Africa, South Africa has taken significant steps to integrate recycled content into packaging regulations. Through a combination of mandatory requirements and voluntary ...

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is often seen as a compliance mechanism - a framework that requires producers to account for the environmental impact of their packaging. But increasingly, EPR is acting as a powerful driver of packaging innovation, influencing design choices in ways that support both regulatory compliance and broader sustainability ...

​ As my time at Lorax EPI wraps up, I've been reflecting on what a meaningful and amazing summer it has been. I feel incredibly grateful to have spent the past few months alongside such a dedicated and inspiring group of people. This internship gave me firsthand exposure to the world of environmental policy and research, with a focus on regulations around...

In 2025, California continues to lead the way in packaging regulation, advancing the rollout of its two landmark laws; the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) and the Truth in Labelling for Recyclable Materials law (SB 343), as key compliance deadlines draw closer. Together, these measures create a new compliance...

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is already firmly in place across India for a number of waste streams, including plastics, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and batteries. Under this system, producers are accountable for the collection, recycling, and environmentally sound disposal of the products they put on the market. Now, a new ...

​On 23 July 2025, Hong Kong's Legislative Council passed the 'Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal of Products (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025' - a big step forward in building a stronger, more consistent foundation for Producer Responsibility Schemes (PRSs).Instead of creating separate laws for each regulated product, this new framework introd...

​Latin America: a cultural region where a common language meets a vast geographical area; a region united by the citizens speaking Spanish or Portuguese, except the language has evolved slightly differently in each country – as has the legislation for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). 'Latin America' is often defined as the cultural region spanning ...

​Poland's long-anticipated Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is set to go live on October 1st, 2025. This milestone follows the enactment of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Management Act in July 2023, which originally aimed for implementation in January 2025. The scheme marks a significant step towards aligning Poland with the EU's sustainability goals and c...

I joined Lorax EPI in September as an Environmental Compliance Researcher for my placement year. Many of my friends described their placements as repetitive and unchallenging, with lots of admin work. However, my experience here couldn't have been more different. Lorax has given me opportunities to grow, learn and take responsibility.When I first joined, ...

​If you're a large packaging producer in the UK, you've probably heard about the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules. From 1 January 2025, all household packaging must be assessed using something called the RAM. RAM stands for Recyclability Assessment Methodology. It's a system created by Defra for large producers to measure how recyclable t...

What is a Deposit Return Scheme?A Deposit Return Scheme is a recycling initiative designed to encourage people to return used beverage containers by charging a small refundable deposit. In practice, it often looks like this: When purchasing a drink, you (as a consumer) are charged an additional fee on any beverage bottle subject to the scheme. After consu...

​The European Union is making a significant move towards sustainable packaging, through the introduction of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). PPWR marks a transformative shift in how packaging is designed, labelled, utilised and disposed of across the EU.Currently, packaging labelling requirements vary widely between EU countries. While...