Elections Could Set the Environmental Course for Years

With the 2026 midterm elections upon us, state legislatures across the country are bracing for a potential shift in power. If Democrats achieve significant victories in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, the packaging and flexible materials industry should prepare for an aggressive legislative agenda around extended producer responsibility (EPR) and related environmental regulations. Here is a closer look at what could lie ahead. California’s EPR program rolls out in the first half of 2027, but that is just the beginning in the state. More progressive Democratic control of the Legislature likely will open the door to expansions beyond packaging EPR and potential reactions to any legal actions or decisions. If the courts continue to question the state’s marquee recyclable labeling law (SB 343) or look poised to strike down its EPR law (SB 54), we should be prepared for strong environmental advocate reactions in the Legislature. We may also see opportunities to reform SB 54 to address legal issues. 

View Article