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As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging laws continue to roll out across the United States, the EPR Academy has emerged as a resource for companies facing unfamiliar compliance demands.
Founded by Washburn Consulting Sustainability and Public Affairs LLC and supported by a coalition of industry partners, the Academy brings together leading experts in EPR policy and compliance to deliver practical, accessible training. The Academy is now live and enrolling compliance managers, sustainability professionals, and business leaders seeking to prepare for new regulatory requirements.
“EPR programs require companies to understand the rules, build internal systems, collect the right data, and issue timely reports,” Dr. Michael Washburn, Founder and Executive Director of EPR Academy, says. “For many businesses, this is unfamiliar territory. The Academy cuts through complexity, making requirements easier to understand and act on.”
The EPR Academy is an online training program owned and operated by Washburn Consulting Sustainability and Public Affairs LLC. Through expert faculty, state-specific guidance, and practical compliance tools, the Academy empowers compliance managers, sustainability leaders, and executives to navigate EPR laws with confidence. The EPR Academy is meeting a growing compliance challenge. EPR packaging laws are already active in California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington, with additional states preparing legislation. Each state has distinct reporting timelines and requirements, and companies face mounting pressure to adapt.
The online training program consolidates critical information into a single, user-friendly platform, enabling professionals to quickly understand their obligations, timelines, and best practices. Offered entirely on demand, the course can be completed in approximately four to six hours at your own pace, with the option to pause and return at any time. Participants may also take an exam to earn a Certificate of Completion, and enrollment includes ongoing access to a resource library with readiness checklists, regulatory updates, glossaries, and links to state agencies and Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs).
“The EPR Academy is designed to meet compliance managers where they are,” says Garth Hickle, Managing Partner of Signalfire Group and longtime product stewardship leader. “With straightforward modules and real-world examples, it demystifies regulations and provides companies with practical pathways to compliance.”
The program is guided by an expert faculty and advisory team, including:
• Elizabeth Biser, Advisor – Former North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary and past Environmental Council of the States President.
• Garth Hickle, Advisor – Signalfire Group, policy and product stewardship expert.
• Kate Bailey, Instructor – Nationally recognized circular economy leader.
• Eileen Cowdery, Instructor – Principal at BCG, advising corporations on EPR and sustainability.
• Resa Dimino, Instructor – Managing Principal at RRS and Managing Partner at Signalfire Group.
• Stephanie Harper, John Hite, Rebecca Schwartz Altholz, Chloe Kapanen, Molly Blessing, and others with extensive regulatory and industry expertise.
“EPR laws are reshaping how companies think about packaging and sustainability,” says Resa Dimino, Managing Principal at RRS and Managing Partner at Signalfire Group, an RRS subsidiary focused on helping governments and businesses navigate policy and regulation. “The Academy brings together the best minds in the field to give compliance managers, executives, and sustainability leaders the confidence to act.”
