EPR compliance is a cost — there’s no ROI to the program on its own. But the packaging data companies are required to gather to comply with it? That’s where the opportunity begins.

In this episode, Jessie Schwartz, President of Strategic Packaging Partners, joins the conversation to unpack what’s actually happening with Extended Producer Responsibility right now: why so many companies still don’t know where their packaging data lives, why “sustainable” is one of the most poorly defined words in the industry, and why companies should think beyond simply submitting an EPR report.

After a career at General Mills, Jessie founded Strategic Packaging Partners, a packaging engineering and EPR reporting company that gives brands flexible access to experienced packaging engineers. Today, the company is focused on helping clients take the data being collected for EPR and turn it into an actionable packaging cost-savings pipeline.

Because once you know what packaging you have, how much of it you use, what it’s made from, and what it costs, that information can do much more than satisfy a reporting requirement. It can help identify material reductions, specification changes, design improvements, sourcing opportunities, and other packaging optimization projects that can deliver measurable savings.

Jessie also shares the thinking behind Pack-IQ, a platform designed to bring structure to fragmented packaging data and help companies move from compliance to analysis, optimization, and execution.

The bigger idea: EPR may force companies to finally organize their packaging data — but the winners will be the companies that actually do something with it.

In this episode:

• (0:29) Lavazza's zero-packaging coffee pod
• (2:53) California's SB54 EPR lawsuit and the Oregon precedent
• (5:24) Introducing Jessie Schwartz, President of Strategic Packaging Partners
• (6:03) From packaging engineer at General Mills to founder
• (7:19) The core EPR challenge: where does the data even live?
• (8:14) What does "sustainable" actually mean?
• (10:53) Why companies are still catching up on EPR basics
• (13:07) Turning compliance data into a cost-savings pipeline
• (14:24) The real adoption barrier: culture, not tech
• (17:00) Why no one has all the answers — and why that's okay
• (18:55) Off-the-Shelf: a 1987 expandable drink concentrate bottle
• (23:04) Closing thoughts

This episode originally aired on the Beyond Packaging podcast, hosted by Laura Foti and Matthew Wright.

If you love our content and want to learn more about the packaging industry, hit SUBSCRIBE!

Connect with us: www.StrategicPackagingPartners.com
Jessie Schwartz - jessie@stratpackpartners.com

EPR reporting isn't just a regulatory box to check — it's the most complete packaging data set most companies have ever had. In this episode, packaging engineers Jessica Schwartz and Eric Abraham break down how brands are turning EPR compliance data into real business strategy: cost reduction, supplier RFPs, material redesign, and innovation roadmaps.

Topics covered: the historical gaps in packaging data, building a single source of truth, EPR as a cross-functional governance challenge, the recyclable film innovation curve, why the regulatory clock is outpacing packaging development cycles, and how brands like Target are using packaging redesign as a competitive edge.

If your organization is still managing EPR in disconnected spreadsheets — or you're not sure your source reduction plan is where it needs to be — this conversation lays out the playbook for moving from reactive compliance to strategic packaging decisions.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Beyond Compliance, meet Jessen & Eric
00:57 – Why packaging data has historically been a mess
02:29 – Eric's binder-and-specnum days at Nestlé (the "before EPR" era)
04:09 – The "Build It Once, Use It Everywhere" framework
06:01 – Two ways companies are handling EPR today (static spreadsheets vs. living data)
06:56 – Harmonizing data into a single source of truth
12:37 – EPR as a cross-department governance problem
14:19 – Recyclable films, runnability, and the innovation curve
16:22 – Why the regulatory clock outruns the packaging development clock
22:01 – Real-world example: Target's shelf disruption & on-pack innovation
22:59 – Reformulation as your packaging redesign "moment of truth"
25:06 – Early adopters vs. EPR fatigue — flipping the mindset
26:38 – EPR as a competitive advantage, not a government takeover
28:01 – PPWR deadline & why compliance is the next big expansion
29:00 – How to get help organizing your EPR data
29:37 – Sign-off

#EPR #PackagingData #Sustainability #PPWR #PackagingEngineering #CircularEconomy

If you love our content and want to learn more about the packaging industry, hit SUBSCRIBE!

Connect with us: www.StrategicPackagingPartners.com
Jessie Schwartz - jessie@stratpackpartners.com

Join Jesse Schwartz (Founder of Strategic Packaging Partners) and Eric (EPR and packaging expert) as they break down the complex, fast-moving landscape of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and packaging sustainability.

Whether you’re navigating California's SB 54 and SB 343 legislation, trying to decipher truth-in-labeling laws, or figuring out how to reduce plastic packaging by 25%, we've got you covered. From the red pencil strategy to actionable compliance steps, we explore the 5 Pathways to Source Reduction:

1. Elimination: Removing unnecessary packaging components entirely.
2. Right-Sizing: Eliminating unused headspace and excess volume.
3. Lightweighting: Down-gauging and optimizing structural design.
4. Reusable/Refillable Models: Shifting away from single-use plastics.
5. Format Shifting: Transitioning to widely recyclable or compostable materials.

Each episode bridges the gap between regulatory pressure and practical engineering. We discuss how brand owners, producers, and packaging suppliers can transform compliance mandates into bottom-line cost savings and sustainable brand loyalty.

Tune in to discover how to turn packaging data into your brand’s ultimate competitive advantage!

About Strategic Packaging Partners

Strategic Packaging Partners helps CPG companies solve complex packaging challenges through packaging engineering, EPR consulting, sustainability strategy, commercialization support, and packaging optimization.

Get Ready for SB 54
Source Reduction Readiness Workshop™
A 90-Minute Facilitated Session to Help You Assess Where You Stand and What Comes Next https://strategicpackagingpartners.com/source-reduction-readiness-workshop

Learn more:

https://strategicpackagingpartners.com

Connect with Jessie Schwartz:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-schwartz-62094416/

Connect with Eric Abraham:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdanielabraham/

#PackagingEngineering #EPR #SB54 #SB343 #Sustainability #CPG #Packaging #PackagingDesign #CircularEconomy #Recyclability #FoodPackaging

#ConsumerPackagedGoods

If you love our content and want to learn more about the packaging industry, hit SUBSCRIBE!

Connect with us: www.StrategicPackagingPartners.com

Jessie Schwartz - jessie@stratpackpartners.com

If you love our content and want to learn more about the packaging industry, hit SUBSCRIBE!

Connect with us: www.StrategicPackagingPartners.com
Jessie Schwartz - jessie@stratpackpartners.com