October Monthly Digest🎃

In her blog, Lorax Policy Analyst Ramisa S. explains Taiwan’s proposed Green Design Fee, aimed at encouraging sustainable packaging practices for plastic and glass. Producers who adopt environmentally sound designs and use recycled materials can benefit from reduced disposal fees. The initiative emphasizes reverse recycling for glass and specific design and recycled content requirements for plastic packaging. However, materials like PVC and bioplastics are excluded. This proposal supports Taiwan's move towards a circular economy and more sustainable development. 

In his blog, Lorax Consultant Justin Given discusses California's Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (SB 707), which aims to reduce textile waste by holding producers accountable for the full lifecycle of their products. The law prioritizes repair and reuse over recycling, requiring producers to join a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) by 2026. It also includes provisions for online marketplaces and substantial penalties for non-compliance. The legislation is a significant step towards fostering a circular economy in fashion. 

Lorax EPI recently attended the Canadian Stewardship Conference in Toronto, where they hosted a pre-conference workshop on EPR data reporting. In this blog, Researcher Aaron Sarah highlights the conferences key topics such as the challenge of non-compliant "free riders", the need for harmonization across provincial EPR regulations, and updates on Canada's upcoming Federal Plastics Registry, which launches in 2024. Our team found the event insightful and engaging, offering opportunities to share their EPR compliance solutions. 

Key News Stories

UK EPR for Packaging: 2nd version of Illustrative Base Fees and Recyclability Assessment Methodology 

The UK government has issued the second version of illustrative base fees for EPR in packaging. These fees are designed to cover the costs of managing packaging waste sustainably, ensuring that producers contribute fairly based on their output. The fees will vary according to the producer's size (small or large businesses) and the type of packaging material, such as plastic, glass, or cardboard. This approach encourages more eco-friendly packaging while imposing higher costs on materials that are harder to recycle, like plastics. The UK Government has also recently released draft packaging Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM). 

The European Commission has proposed a 12-month delay in the implementation of the EUDR 

The European Commission has proposed an amendment to the Deforestation Regulation, extending the application deadline for businesses. This regulation is designed to prevent products linked to deforestation from entering the EU market, requiring businesses to prove their supply chains are deforestation-free. The amendment addresses concerns about the timeline for implementation, giving companies more time to comply with the complex requirements. This change aims to balance environmental protection with industry readiness. 

Greenwashing: Many companies are repeat offenders, study finds. 

A recent study has found that many companies engaged in greenwashing—making deceptive environmental claims—are repeat offenders. Despite growing regulatory scrutiny and public awareness, nearly 30% of companies flagged for greenwashing in 2023 were caught again in 2024. While the overall number of incidents decreased for the first time in six years, high-risk cases surged by over 30%, highlighting the persistence and evolving nature of greenwashing. In the U.S., incidents increased slightly, with a sharp rise in severe cases, partly due to the politicization of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. 

Events

Pack Expo International – Chicago, 3-6 November 

Our Business Development Manager Lydia will be exhibiting at Pack Expo International with one of our partners Specright. 

Sustainable Packaging Summit – Amsterdam, 12-13 November 

Our COO Michelle will be speaking at the summit amongst other industry leaders on the topic of tackling "The Reporting Headache – The Elephant in the Room". 

Sustainable Cosmetics Summit – Paris 

Lydia also recently attended the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit in Paris France, discussing our past and ongoing collaborations with cosmetics companies and how Lorax EPI can support your cosmetics business.