PALM DESERT, Calif. — As the June 1 producer reporting deadline for California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act neared, packaging companies exhibiting at the West Coast Produce Expo say a lot of growers, packers, shippers and others in the fresh produce industry still don’t understand what this act entails.
As of June 1, every obligated producer must choose one of three compliance pathways: register and submit supply data through California’s official Producer Responsibility Organization, Circular Action Alliance’ register directly with CalRecycle to comply as an independent producer; or apply for a small producer exemption. This mandate applies to all companies across the country selling into California, not just those growing in the state.
Thomas Hoops, senior sales representative with Emerald Packaging, says the company has educated its customers about the upcoming extended producer responsibility (EPR) deadline and the impact of the act.
“Generally, people know what it is but not the details,” he says.
Hoops says a lot of grower-packer businesses are unclear how this act will apply to the produce industry.
Hoops’ colleague, Director of Sales and Marketing Todd Somers, agrees, noting that while many growers in the fresh produce industry in California might understand more about the act, it’s those growers and packers who sell into the state that likely don’t recognize its impact.
The lack of widespread understanding in the industry is a sentiment echoed by the team at Fox Packaging, where Marketing and Business Development Manager Victoria Lopez says, “People who know, know, and people who don’t know, don’t.”
Lopez says Fox Packaging’s entire West Coast Produce Expo booth display highlights EPRs, post-consumer recycled plastic and more.
“I’m mostly letting people know what is happening,” Lopez says. “Even the language in the act — people don’t know the severity of it.”
While some conversations at the expo focused heavily on compliance, sustainable alternative packaging was the hot topic at the LK Packaging booth, says Scott Brigante, regional sales manager.
“Most conversations have been around our sustainable packaging offerings,” he says.
Brigante says also of keen interest are the company’s fiber trays with non-PVC overlap.
While the Belmark Inc. team says nobody stopped by the company booth to specifically talk about EPRs, Jim Gross, central coast sales specialist, says the company has been educating its customers about the pending regulations.
Belmark has the gram weight information available to help those companies register their responsibility. Gross says the company continues to offer more PCR materials that have a good customer experience with the company’s products.
Jason VandeLoo, director of business development, says that sustainability and compliance teams within a produce industry business will likely be the ones within a company to register and track usage.
“Somebody’s going to have to be given this task,” VandeLoo says.
“I’ve had four emails within the last week,” Russell Reta, regional sales manager at Giro Pack Inc., says of customers asking about EPRs.
The emails mostly stem from customers seeking information on the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.
“What can you tell us about this?” Reta says he’s been asked. “Where can [Giro Pack] fit into the new law?”
Reta says that as he interfaces with Giro Pack customers, he also makes sure to also put SB 343 — the truth-in-labeling law — also on the radar, because if it passes, the recycle logo must be removed from all packaging and labels.
