The year 2023 will be another precedent-setting one in terms of how much legislation will be introduced, but it is also a long year following the 2022 elections where Democrats had some notable gains at the state level.
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Federal and State Advocacy Initiatives
FPA conducts important advocacy work at the federal and state levels. Read updates on current legislature that relates to the flexible packaging industry.
FPA Continues to Fight Against Unfair Aluminum Tariffs
Deadline for Final Findings Is Extended to July
March/April 2023
The Flexible Packaging Association developed and launched a broad-based outreach campaign to engage members of Capitol Hill and sound the alarm that the flexible packaging industry was once again being unfairly targeted with unwarranted trade actions on aluminum foil.
Read More2023 Activity in States Picks up Where 2021, 2022 Left off
Jan/Feb 2023
The years 2021 and 2022 were unprecedented with groundbreaking new laws in the packaging sector. Four states adopted new extended producer responsibility laws, two states adopted new recycled content mandates for various types of packaging, and California adopted a first-in-the-nation recycling labeling law. The year 2023 will also likely prove to be significant and precedent setting for packaging policy.
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New Congress, Biden Second Term Kick Off 2023
Jan/Feb 2023
With the midterm elections behind us, 2023 kicks off the 118th Congress and marks the second half of President Joe Biden’s first term. As the past several years have taught us, we know we need to expect the unexpected.
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Here Is a Look at Potential Impacts of the Elections
Nov/Dec 2022
Election Day on November 8 has been a date circled on the calendar for what feels like forever. From the first day of the 117th Congress on January 3, 2021, it seemed the race for the midterm elections had kicked off. Democrats focused their messaging on how to hold majority control of Congress and Republicans on how to regain leadership control. And now, here we are, with the elections upon us and at the time for assessing the impact of and planning for the next Congress.
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2022 Wraps Up With California Passing EPR for Packaging
Nov/Dec 2022
The year 2022 was significant and precedent-setting for the flexible packaging industry, with the addition of new state laws that will govern how packaging is made and managed at the end of life. Numerous states debated packaging issues, with two passing and signing extended producer responsibility bills for packaging. Many more states are addressing issues like recycled content mandates, labeling, and toxic chemicals in packaging.
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2022 Sets New EPR Precedents
Sept/Oct 2022
Despite waning energy earlier in the year, a late surge in interest in packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) produced two new EPR laws.
Read MoreManufacturing Month Creates Opportunities to Focus on Workforce Issues
Sept/Oct 2022
Even before the pandemic, a workforce shortage was brewing nationwide. The shortage is particularly impactful in the manufacturing sector, as appropriately skilled workers were becoming harder to find.
Read MorePackaging EPR Bills Falter, Challenging Policies Remain in Play
July/Aug 2022
Several states are considering proposals that are “simpler solutions” to address packaging in the waste stream. Those concerns continue to be driven by concern over plastic pollution.
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The President’s Budget Request Explained
July/Aug 2022
Every year the president and Congress engage in the annual federal budget process to fund all aspects of the federal government. This complex process seems to get more complicated every year.
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All Sides Agree: Workforce Issues Need Solutions
May/June 2022
While aspects of the economy are in recovery, workforce issues are at a crisis point. Public and private entities, large and small companies are facing unprecedented challenges in finding and retaining both entry-level and skilled workers as the labor force participation rate continues to decline.
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More States Ponder Packaging Policies
May/June 2022
This year, more states are debating packaging issues. These debates, at times, are taking contrasting views over the role of producers in recycling systems and how requirements are developed.
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2022 State Legislative Sessions Heat Up Early
March/April 2022
This year will likely prove to be another significant and precedent-setting year with the addition of several new state laws that will govern how packaging is made and managed at the end of life.
Read MoreMidterm Elections Just Months Away
March/April 2022
These days, Washington is in a constant election cycle. A lot is at stake this November, including control of both the House and Senate.
Read More2022 State Legislative Discussions Speed Up
Jan/Feb 2022
State legislators introduced multiple bills in 2021, and some of those measures resulted in several new laws impacting packaging.
Read MoreCybersecurity Becomes High Priority
Jan/Feb 2022
Many priorities are the same every year—plastics, tariffs, and recycling. In 2022, cybersecurity has been added to that upper echelon of importance.
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Expect Busy 2022 State Legislative Docket
EPR, labeling, and recycling at the fore
Nov/Dec 2021
If 2021 was a landmark year in terms of new packaging policy at the state level, 2022 likely will prove to be another precedent-setting year with the addition of several new state laws. Active conversations in at least a half dozen states indicate that the interest in new packaging policy has not waned and may be even larger.
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Looking Back / Moving Forward
Biden Administration provides more clarity with priorities
Nov/Dec 2021
The Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) federal advocacy efforts continue to advance to protect the priorities of the flexible packaging industry. “Flexible” has been the word of the year again, and efforts in Washington, D.C., continued to embrace this mantra.
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National Recycling Efforts Gain Support
Congress Considers Numerous Proposals
Sept/Oct 2021
A top legislative priority for the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) continues to be an unwavering commitment to advocate for a national strategy to improve, advance, and increase plastics recycling in the U.S. From the time the Biden Administration and the 117th Congress were first sworn in earlier this year, FPA has worked with our industry partners on efforts to advance a comprehensive strategic framework to implement legislation and regulations that will create a more circular economy for flexible packaging and all plastics.
Read MoreMaine and Oregon Pass First U.S. EPR Laws
Sept/Oct 2021
2021 will go down as a landmark year in terms of new packaging policy at the state level. Maine and Oregon’s legislatures have now officially passed extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging sold or distributed in their states.
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