RETAIL
3R supports large apparel brand in navigating EPR
A large apparel brand requested support from 3R Sustainability to navigate the new packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws. 3R helped to assess their packaging EPR obligations across active states and developed tools to enable accurate and efficient EPR reporting. The project identified over $200K in potential annual EPR fees identified with plastic fees 15x higher than corrugate, actionable insights provided to mitigate risk, reduce future fees, and improve packaging strategies.
“3R Sustainability helped my company create a framework for accurate and meaningful data collection for emerging EPR regulations. Their team helped us create strategy, practical solutions, and long-term change to support an offensive approach to the ever-changing regulatory landscape. I highly recommend the 3R Team and their services to all other brands in the textile industry and beyond!“
– Client
Impact
$200K in potential annual EPR fees identified, actionable insights provided
- Cost Forecasting & Risk Mitigation: Early identification of EPR fees and packaging materials driving fees allows for better budgeting and financial planning.
- Regulatory Risk Reduction: Ensures compliance with state-specific laws and avoids legal exposure and fines from non-compliance.
- Centralized Documentation: Streamlined reporting templates and supply chain maps support audit readiness and reporting defensibility.
- Packaging Efficiency: Mapping packaging flows helps identify redundancies and optimize packaging at each supply chain stage.
- Sustainable Design Incentives: Insights from packaging data help identify where packaging sustainability can be improved, such as reducing plastics or increasing recyclability or recycled content, to meet state EPR design requirements and earn EPR fee discounts.
Client Needs
The client, a $1.6 billion annual revenue apparel brand, requested support from 3R for assistance in preparing for packaging EPR reporting, including understanding their obligation and steps required to build internal reporting capabilities to ensure complete and accurate submissions to EPR states.
Approach and Solution
- Stakeholder Engagement: Conducted interviews across departments to identify data owners and reporting gaps.
- Visual Supply Chain Map: Developed a comprehensive map showing where packaging is added, disposed, and tracked across the supply chain.
- Customized Reporting Template: Created a tool tailored to the client’s packaging sources that included product, transportation, and store packaging.
- EPR Fee Estimation: Provided projections for annual EPR fees in active states, highlighting cost drivers and risk areas.
- Improvement Opportunities: Provided recommendations for how packaging sustainability could be improved to reduce costs & future EPR fees.
Need Product and Packaging Sustainability Support?
At 3R, we see sustainable products and packaging not only as a critical opportunity but a necessity in driving environmental and business value.
We support our clients in a continuous journey to keep advancing the sustainability of your products and packaging, empowering you to achieve waste, decarbonization, and circularity goals through integrated solutions that optimize compliance, product design, and resource efficiency. Learn more about our product and packaging services here.