Product Policy Institute (PPI) is a North American not-for-profit education and technical assistance organization. Our mission is to prevent waste and to promote sustainable production and consumption practices through good public policy and governance.

PPI offers local governments practical tools to navigate the transition from a Throw-Away to a Zero Waste Society.  PPI works with local governments and community organizations to build support for effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), or Product Stewardship, policies that hold producers responsible for ensuring that their products do not become public liabilities.

PPI’s Strategy

• Organize local governments through independent state Product Stewardship Councils to take local actions and to speak with one voice for EPR.
• Help Councils network and work towards statewide EPR Framework regulations like those operating in British Columbia and several other Canadian provinces.
• Develop public support for the shift to Extended Producer Responsibility

The goal of EPR policies is to internalize the costs of collection, recycling and managing product waste into the price of the product.  Many states and provinces have passed producer responsibility legislation for specific products and packaging.  These policies shift the costs of managing these products from local governments to the producers who design, manufacture and profit from these products.  Making producers responsible for managing their wastes motivates them to design products that are less toxic and more easily recycled.

PPI Services and Support

• Developing Council Funding and Organizational Strategies
• Arranging Peer Matching; One-on-One Support and Technical Assistance
• Designing Starter Organization Documents; Starter Website and Listserv
• Developing Outreach Materials; Organizing Workshops
• Networking with Other Councils
• Harmonizing Policies, Including EPR Framework, Among Councils
• Connecting with Local Non-profit and Business EPR Advocates

Contact PPI for assistance with starting councils and developing policies and practices that will support EPR at the community level.  Read PPI's Brochure (June09).

Why the Compass? The Product Policy Institute believes that the proper role of government is setting and enforcing performance standards in the public interest (True North), rather than providing detailed solutions (Maps). Principles on which governments should base standards for sustainable industry performance include producer responsibility, polluter pays and precaution.