Reporting ready: How Leading Brands Turn EPR Data Into Enterprise Strategy - LinkedIn Live Sep 2026

Beyond Compliance: How Leading Brands Turn EPR Data Into Enterprise Strategy - (recorded 9-3-2026) EPR reporting is often viewed as a regulatory requirement — collect the data, submit the report, pay the fees, and move on. But what if the data you're already collecting for EPR could become one of your company's most valuable strategic assets? In this LinkedIn Live conversation, Jessica Schwartz and Eric Abraham explore how companies can move beyond compliance and use packaging data to make smarter decisions across cost reduction, supplier strategy, packaging redesign, innovation, sustainability, and operations. The conversation looks at why EPR is exposing a major packaging-data visibility problem — and why creating a single source of truth for packaging data can help companies move from reactive reporting to proactive decision-making. You'll hear about: • Why EPR is revealing gaps in packaging data and organizational visibility • The difference between static EPR spreadsheets and living packaging data • How reporting data can become a strategic business dashboard • Using EPR data to identify cost-reduction opportunities • Why packaging decisions need to consider trade-offs like shelf life, food waste, and operational performance • Who should actually own EPR compliance inside an organization • How EPR can create opportunities for packaging innovation • Preparing for recyclable films, PCR, and other emerging packaging solutions • Why the regulatory clock can move faster than the packaging-development cycle • How companies can design packaging with 2030 requirements in mind • Using packaging data during reformulations, label changes, and product development • How better data can support supplier RFPs and packaging redesign • Why EPR reporting can become a competitive advantage The goal isn't simply to report packaging data. It's to build the data foundation that allows companies to understand, manage, optimize, and innovate their packaging portfolios. Chapters 00:00 — Beyond Compliance: The Opportunity in EPR Data 03:00 — Why Packaging Data Has Historically Been Difficult to Access 07:00 — From EPR Reporting to Strategic Decision-Making 11:00 — Building a Single Source of Truth for Packaging Data 15:00 — Turning EPR Costs Into Business Intelligence 19:00 — The Shift From Linear Reporting to a Continuous Improvement Cycle 23:00 — PCR, Recyclability & The Coming Resource Constraints 27:00 — Balancing EPR Goals With Shelf Life, Food Waste & Performance 31:00 — Who Owns EPR Compliance? 35:00 — The Role of Packaging Teams, Finance, Procurement & IT 39:00 — Innovation: Preparing for Recyclable Films 43:00 — Why the Regulatory Clock Is Faster Than Packaging Development 47:00 — Designing for 2030 Instead of Designing for Today 51:00 — Right-Sizing Packaging & The Business Impact of Better Data 55:00 — Connecting Packaging Changes With Product Reformulation 59:00 — From Compliance Data to Cost Reduction & Innovation 1:03:00 — Why EPR Can Become a Competitive Advantage 1:07:00 — The Path From EPR Reporting to Managed Packaging 1:10:00 — Final Takeaways & How to Get Started The Big Takeaway EPR reporting may be the entry point — but packaging data is the foundation for a much bigger strategic opportunity. When companies can see and manage their packaging data, they can begin identifying where they are spending the most, where regulatory exposure exists, where redesign makes sense, and where innovation can create meaningful business value. Learn more: https://strategicpackagingpartners.com Connect with Jessie Schwartz:   / jessie-schwartz-62094416   Connect with Eric Abraham:   / ericdanielabraham   #EPR #Packaging #PackagingEngineering #PackagingData #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #PackagingInnovation #ExtendedProducerResponsibility #SupplyChain #CostReduction