RLG Engages on EPR Innovation at the 2025 US Product Stewardship Forum
On June 3–5, 2025, RLG joined policy leaders, regulators, and industry experts at the 2025 US Product Stewardship Forum, hosted by the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) in Chicago. The event brought together stakeholders from across the country to dive into the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy.
Reflecting on Emerging Trends
Andriana Kontovrakis, RLG’s Director of EPR Solutions, described the event as “invigorating,” after engaging with state regulators, producers and EPR policy specialists from all over the country on a broad swath of new and growing EPR initiatives.
“Packaging EPR was a hot topic at the conference, but a good amount of discussion was also had on other material types with first-in-the-country EPR laws or bills in play, like textiles, household hazardous waste and vapes,” she shared. “The broader acceptance of EPR as a policy choice used to solve environmental and solid waste issues at a local level is exciting.”
Leading the Conversation on Textile EPR
In addition to attending, Andriana Kontovrakis took an active role in shaping the conversation by moderating a panel titled “Threading the Future: Revolutionizing Textile Recycling Through EPR”. The session explored the complexities and benefits of implementing textile EPR laws, with a particular focus on efforts in California and the European Union.
The panel featured:
- Zoe Heller, Director of CalRecycle
- Doug Kobold, Executive Director of the California Product Stewardship Council
- Mattias Wallander, CEO of USAgain
Together, the group unpacked the operational, legislative, and logistical challenges of scaling textile recycling through EPR and discussed ways to harmonize efforts across jurisdictions.
Looking Ahead with RLG
As EPR continues to gain traction as a policy tool for addressing complex waste streams, RLG remains committed to helping producers, regulators, and stewardship organizations navigate implementation effectively. We’re thrilled to contribute to these important conversations and support smarter, more sustainable product lifecycle management.
