Reusable Packaging group backs product stewardship

March 5 – The Reusable Packaging Association is officially supporting product stewardship, also known as extended producer responsibility, the group said.

"The RPA is embracing this important issue because our goal is to promote the value and expansion of reusable materials as preferred packaging solutions across supply chains, private or public," said Tim Debus, chairman of RPA’s Industry Development Committee.

Product stewardship, as defined by the U.S. EPA, is a product-centered approach to environmental protection, the RPA said.

The RPA calls itself a "collaborative effort between manufacturers, poolers, distributors, retailers and educators to promote the environmental, safety, and economic benefits of reusable packaging."

"Also known as extended product responsibility (EPR), product stewardship calls on those in the product life cycleùmanufacturers, retailers, users, and disposersùto share responsibility for reducing the environmental impacts of products," according to the EPA.

Contact Waste & Recycling News senior reporter Jim Johnson at 937-964-1289 or jpjohnson@crain.com