2026 ANNUAL SUMMIT KEY TAKEAWAYS

Packaging Policy Has Entered a New Phase: Key Takeaways from the 2026 AMERIPEN Annual Summit

For years, packaging policy issues were often discussed independently. Extended producer responsibility (EPR), chemicals management, recycled-content mandates, labeling requirements, and others were frequently treated as separate conversations. 

At this year’s Annual Summit, one message emerged repeatedly: those conversations are now deeply connected. 

At a time when packaging policy is becoming increasingly consequential, a record number of industry leaders gathered at The Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 AMERIPEN Annual Summit. The highest-attended Summit in the association's history brought together manufacturers, brands, material suppliers, recyclers, composters, policymakers, regulators, sustainability leaders, and advocates to explore the future of packaging policy and the actions needed to build a more circular economy. 

Throughout the three-day event, speakers returned to a common theme: success will require greater collaboration, deeper technical understanding, stronger policy engagement, and closer coordination across the packaging value chain than ever before. 

"The conversations taking place today are fundamentally different than the conversations we were having just a few years ago," said Lynn Dyer, President of AMERIPEN. "Packaging policy has entered a new phase. We are moving from debate to implementation, from isolated policy discussions to interconnected systems challenges. Whether the issue is EPR or other packaging-related policies, the decisions being made today will have long-term implications across the packaging value chain. AMERIPEN's role is to bring together diverse stakeholders, elevate evidence-based policies, and ensure science, data, and real-world experience inform those decisions." 

Her comments set the tone for the Summit and were reinforced throughout nearly every discussion, regardless of topic. 

EPR Has Moved from Theory to Implementation 

The Summit opened with a conversation between Dyer and Circular Action Alliance CEO Jeff Fielkow, who provided attendees with a progress report on the implementation of EPR programs in the seven states with EPR for packaging laws. 

The discussion focused on lessons learned, producer engagement, program development, and the implementation realities of building systems that deliver measurable environmental outcomes. 

The message was clear: EPR is no longer a future consideration. It is now an operational reality that businesses across the packaging value chain must actively navigate. 

Policymakers Are Looking Beyond Collection to Outcomes 

As states increasingly incorporate Responsible End Market requirements into packaging legislation and EPR programs, stakeholders are paying closer attention to what happens after materials are collected. 

During a discussion featuring Shane Buckingham of Circular Action Alliance, Dylan de Thomas of The Recycling Partnership, and Chris Snow of the U.S. Composting Council, panelists explored how recovered materials are verified, managed, and ultimately returned to productive use. 

The conversation reinforced a critical point: collection alone is not enough. Long-term success depends on creating reliable systems, infrastructure, and end markets that keep materials in circulation and deliver measurable environmental outcomes. 

Chemicals Policy Continues to Accelerate 

One of the most rapidly evolving areas of packaging policy remains the issue of chemicals of concern. 

John Fay of the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse, Crystal Bayliss of the U.S. Plastics Pact, and Dr. Kimberly Wise White of the American Chemistry Council explored the growing focus on PFAS, phthalates, microplastics, and other emerging chemical issues. 

Panelists discussed the layered intersection of science, regulation, litigation, consumer expectations, and public policy. As states continue advancing legislation related to chemicals in packaging, speakers emphasized the importance of risk-based decision-making, high-quality scientific data, and regulatory consistency. 

The takeaway for attendees was evident: companies should expect continued scrutiny and evolving policy activity in this area for years to come. 

Early Engagement Matters More Than Ever 

One of the Summit's most anticipated sessions featured state legislators discussing how packaging policy is developed, debated, and ultimately enacted. 

During a conversation moderated by AMERIPEN contract lobbyist Andy Hackman of Serlin Haley, Connecticut Senator Rick Lopes, Massachusetts Representative Ted Phillips, and Rhode Island Representative Brian Kennedy shared their perspectives on environmental policy development, stakeholder engagement, and the challenges of building consensus around evolving sustainability issues. 

The discussion provided insight into how policymakers evaluate packaging issues and reinforced the importance of engaging early, communicating transparently, and building constructive relationships before legislation is finalized. 

Effective Advocacy Requires More Than Good Intentions 

That theme carried over directly into the Summit's Advocacy in Action session, where Jordan Fengel of the Carton Council, Scott DeFife of the Glass Packaging Institute, and attorney Adam Gordon shared tangible examples of how to navigate policy challenges related to recyclability determinations, recycled-content mandates, trade actions, and material-specific regulations. 

Drawing on experiences across state and federal policy debates, panelists emphasized that successful advocacy depends on technical expertise, strong data, broad stakeholder engagement, and sustained participation throughout the policymaking process. 

As packaging policy grows more dynamic, advocacy can no longer be reactive; it must be strategic, collaborative, and informed by operational expertise. 

Reuse Is Becoming a Policy Conversation 

Reuse continues to gain momentum as policymakers explore new approaches to waste reduction and circularity. 

Tim Debus of the Reusable Packaging Association and Sydney Harris of Upstream explored how reusable packaging systems are being incorporated into corporate sustainability initiatives, circular economy strategies, and emerging policy frameworks. 

The discussion highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of scaling reuse and emphasized that reuse is not simply a packaging decision; it is a systems decision that involves infrastructure, logistics, financing, consumer participation, and policy design. 

Federal Packaging Policy Is Gaining Momentum 

The following day, attendees broadened their focus from state-level developments to national priorities. 

Mark Thompson of Keller and Heckman provided an overview of emerging federal packaging policy issues, including chemical regulation, packaging's treatment as a consumer product category, and broader political and regulatory trends that could shape future policy discussions. 

His presentation reinforced the convergence of state, federal, and global packaging policy conversations and highlighted the importance of understanding emerging issues before they become formal regulatory requirements. 

Policy Conversations Must Lead to Action 

While many conferences end with discussion, the AMERIPEN Annual Summit concluded with action. 

Following a federal policy briefing led by Mark Bescher of Legacy Public Policy and Shannon Campagna of Portfolio Strategies, attendees traveled to Capitol Hill to meet directly with Members of Congress and congressional staff to advocate for passage of the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act (H.R. 6832). 

Members discussed the importance of establishing consistent national truth-in-labeling standards for recyclability, compostability, and reuse claims while sharing firsthand industry experience from across the packaging value chain. 

The Capitol Hill meetings reinforced a defining characteristic of AMERIPEN's approach: bringing together education, policy expertise, and direct advocacy. After several days of learning and discussion, attendees had the opportunity to bring those insights directly to federal policymakers. 

What We Heard Repeatedly Throughout the Summit 

While each session focused on a different aspect of packaging policy, several themes surfaced again and again throughout the Summit: 

• Implementation is now the industry's biggest challenge. 

• Policymakers are focused on measurable outcomes and accountability. 

• State, federal, and global policy discussions no longer exist in isolation. 

• Data, science, and technical expertise are more important than ever. 

• Collaboration across the packaging value chain remains essential to developing workable solutions. 

What Comes Next 

The packaging policy landscape continues to evolve, and many of the issues discussed at this year's Summit are already shaping legislative, regulatory, and market conversations across the country. 

AMERIPEN remains focused on providing credible information, fostering productive dialogue, and helping stakeholders navigate a dynamic policy environment. 

We look forward to continuing the conversations at our next AMERIPEN Annual Summit, June 8–10, 2027, in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.