AMERIPEN’s 2025 Annual Summit Underscores Urgent Industry Focus on EPR Implementation

Photo Credit: AMERIPEN

AMERIPEN, the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment, successfully wrapped up its 2025 Annual Summit in the U.S. capital, bringing together nearly 150 key stakeholders from across the packaging industry for three days of policy engagement, knowledge sharing, and collaborative strategy development.

According to AMERIPEN’s official website, the Summit, held from June 10 to 12, took place amid a pivotal moment for packaging legislation in the United States, as several states began implementing the nation’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws. These regulatory shifts have placed increased urgency on industry alignment and policy advocacy.

“With EPR now a reality and packaging legislation moving rapidly in legislatures across the country, this Summit provided members an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, regulatory staff, and one another,” said Lynn Dyer, Executive Director of AMERIPEN. “The energy, collaboration, and leadership on display this week reinforced the important role AMERIPEN plays in helping our industry shape effective, actionable packaging policy.”

According to reports from AMERIPEN, the event kicked off with the organization’s largest-ever Capitol Hill delegation. Over 60 members engaged in nearly 40 face-to-face meetings with federal lawmakers, emphasizing the need for a cohesive national framework to streamline conflicting state-level packaging and labeling requirements.

Throughout the event, attendees participated in policy panels, technical workshops, and peer exchanges. Key sessions included:

A fireside chat with Jeff Fielkow, CEO of Circular Action Alliance, discussing industry collaboration under EPR.

Panels on recyclability validation, EPR enforcement, and market development for recycled materials.

Perspectives from municipal leaders and state senators on the challenges and opportunities in implementing EPR on the ground.

A forward-looking keynote titled “Packaging into 2050,” delivered by Smithers executive Ciaran Little, examines demographic and consumer service trends that will shape packaging policy in the coming decades.

In addition to the formal programming, the Summit featured a range of networking activities, providing members with opportunities to build partnerships and reflect on progress. The event concluded with a Member Workshop designed to set priorities for AMERIPEN’s 2025–2026 strategic agenda.

Industry observers note that as more U.S. states advance or consider packaging EPR legislation, AMERIPEN’s role as a convening and advocacy body has become increasingly vital.

Source: AMERIPEN