RLG Insights from the 2026 AAFA Product & Safety Compliance Seminar in Long Beach, CA
RLG’s Commercial Development Manager, Tina Nguyen, recently attended the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) Product & Safety Compliance Seminar.
Discussions consistently reflect how the compliance landscape continues to evolve rapidly, impacting manufacturers and retailers through shifting policy priorities, and reinforcing the need for practical, integrated compliance strategies.
Last year’s conversations centered on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This year’s focus shifted towards PFAS testing, chemical regulations, and EU policy uncertainty. Companies continue to face overlapping requirements across U.S. states and between Europe and North America, along with rising costs and strained internal resources, contributing to confusion, hesitation, and affordability concerns.
Key Takeaways for EPR
As packaging EPR programs continue to move from concept into active implementation across multiple states, EPR remains a central focus. The overarching message from the AAFA seminar was clear: compliance expectations will continue to expand, alongside increasing costs, resource demands, and operational challenges, particularly around the most critical component of reporting – data. Across the EPR sessions, a few consistent signals stood out:
- Even if legal challenges against EPR delay or reshape certain mandates, the underlying pressure to manage waste more sustainably isn’t going anywhere. The financial and operational burden of end-of-life management is becoming a standard part of doing business.
- Likewise, should packaging EPR frameworks falter, states may pivot toward direct reporting obligations rather than utilizing an intermediary, the producer responsibility organization (PRO), to maintain accountability and transparency.
- Adding to the EPR momentum is textiles. California’s new textile EPR law is already in motion, and other states are watching closely – signalling this may be just the beginning of broader adoption.
Meanwhile, the EU’s Digital Product Passports (DPPs) mandate digital records for products sold in the European Union. DPPs are emerging as a complementary tool in the EPR ecosystem. By tying product data, from materials and repairability to recyclability, to a digital record, DPPs promise to streamline regulation compliance, enable circular design, and enhance consumer trust.
As both EPR and DPP initiatives evolve, producers that invest early in traceability and lifecycle data systems will be best positioned to stay ahead of regulatory and market expectations.
RLG’s Role in a Complex Compliance Environment
Companies are seeking more than guidance on individual regulations – they need partners who use trusted methodologies and established data infrastructures to simplify complexity, reduce burden, and deliver integrated compliance solutions.
Through regulatory expertise, data management capabilities, and end-to-end environmental compliance support, RLG helps organizations navigate requirements with clarity and confidence.
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RLG is committed to helping organizations stay ahead of change and move forward with efficient, practical solutions.
Reach out to our team to learn how we can help your organization stay ahead.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Laws are subject to interpretation and change without notice, so always consult with professional advisors and refer to primary sources. Content is accurate as of publication date but may not be regularly updated.
