Extended Producer Responsibility for Pet Brands: Costs, Packaging Changes & How to Get Ahead

Last month, a mid-sized pet treat company called us in a mild panic.

A retailer emailed asking for something brand-new on their radar: “Can you send your packaging recyclability data and confirm whether your products will meet upcoming extended producer responsibility requirements in Colorado and Oregon?”

Their operations director groaned: “We just finished renewals. Now EPR compliance? What even counts as recyclable under these new packaging regulations?”

This is becoming a common moment across the pet food industry. As extended producer responsibility laws expand, brands are realizing they need to understand what EPR actually requires and how it will impact packaging, costs, and retailer expectations.

So here’s a clear, concise breakdown of extended producer responsibility, how it affects the pet food industry, and what you can do right now to stay compliant and competitive.

What extended producer responsibility means for pet food brands

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) shifts end-of-life packaging costs from cities to companies. If you sell any packaged pet food product—kibble, treats, toppers, supplements—you’re included.

Most EPR programs require brands to:

• Report packaging data (material type, weight, recyclability)
• Pay EPR fees based on material impact
• Meet PCR and recyclability targets over time

Seven U.S. states now have EPR laws for packaging (CA, CO, OR, ME, MN, MD, WA), and more are coming. The EU’s updated Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation adds even tighter rules.

Retailers are also turning this into a requirement. If you read our trend breakdown,

How EPR will impact your packaging, operations, and costs

Pet food packaging relies heavily on flexible plastics and multi-layer laminates—materials that EPR laws specifically target.

Here’s what pet food brands should expect:

1. Packaging choices now directly affect EPR fees
Eco-modulated EPR fees reward recyclable packaging and penalize complex, hard-to-recycle materials.

2. Multi-layer bags become increasingly expensive
Traditional kibble bags and laminated treat pouches may carry higher compliance costs unless redesigned with more recyclable materials. (If you need help redesigning your packaging, we can point you towards a packaging/logistics partner for the physical packaging and our team can facilitate the design and labeling.) 

3. Detailed EPR reporting becomes mandatory
Brands will need to track material type, weight, and recyclability by SKU.

Bottom line: EPR is a cost-of-goods issue.

Step one: Map your EPR responsibilities and build your packaging data foundation

Think of extended producer responsibility the same way you think of licensing, tonnage, or label compliance: consistent, organized, and predictable.

1. Map where EPR laws apply to your products

Create a simple EPR compliance spreadsheet listing:

• States and countries where you sell
• Which regions already have EPR laws
• Which packaging formats appear in each market

2. Start collecting packaging data now

Capture the basics:

• Material type
• Material weight
• Recyclability under EPR laws
• PCR content, if applicable

This is the core of your EPR reporting requirements. Adding a packaging tab to your spec sheets makes future reporting far easier.

3. Assign someone to manage EPR compliance

This could sit under Regulatory, Ops, Sustainability, or Finance—but someone needs ownership of:

• Monitoring EPR regulations
• Coordinating packaging data
• Modeling EPR fees over time

If your internal team is stretched thin, folding EPR into your existing compliance partnership can reduce the workload dramatically.

Step two: Redesign packaging with EPR compliance in mind

You don’t need a full rebrand to make meaningful improvements to your EPR footprint. Most brands can make progress with a few strategic changes.

High-impact moves for EPR-friendly packaging

Simplify materials
Shift toward mono-material films where possible. These perform better under EPR packaging regulations.

Right-size your packaging
Reducing excess material lowers both costs and EPR fees.

Choose “widely recyclable” formats first
Paper, certain plastics, and metals with strong recycling markets perform better under extended producer responsibility models.

Integrate PCR content early
States like CA and CO already require minimum PCR levels. Early adoption improves compliance and reduces sourcing friction later.

Consumer research consistently shows demand for sustainable pet packaging. EPR simply adds a regulatory push to a market-driven trend.

Step three: Turn EPR readiness into a competitive advantage

EPR compliance makes you more attractive to retailers and consumers. Given the option, wouldn’t you rather buy dog food in a fully recyclable container? 

Stronger retailer partnerships

Retailers increasingly expect:

• Recyclability data
• Packaging specs
• A 2–3 year packaging roadmap

Brands that come prepared stand out as low-risk, high-reliability partners.

What pet food companies should do next

Extended producer responsibility is growing quickly, and the best-prepared brands will adapt early.

Here’s your simplified roadmap:

1. Build your EPR map — know exactly where packaging obligations apply.
2. Organize packaging data — even rough numbers help you prepare.
3. Update packaging roadmaps — integrate recyclability and PCR targets.
4. Make EPR part of your compliance system — like licensing or tonnage.
5. Use EPR for trust-building — with retailers and sustainability-minded consumers.

If you want support integrating EPR compliance into your licensing, labeling, and regulatory workflow, our team can help streamline the entire process! Learn more here.