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Climate Change & EPR

PPI White Paper

Products, Packaging and US Greenhouse Gas Emissions

by Joshua Stolaroff, PhD

PPI White PaperSeptember 2009                                                                     Download

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This paper builds on a new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Materials and Land Management Practices,” which offers new insight into the impact of products and packaging on climate change. Based on the report, non-food products are associated with 37 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This paper extends the EPA analysis to include the impacts from producing products abroad that are consumed in the U.S.  This brings the share of products and packaging to 44 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

44 Percent Products & Packaging

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Systems-based view
including emissions embodied in international trade.

A comparison with these national-level figures is made with previous research on U.S. household carbon footprints, which similarly finds that products make up a large share of the average household’s greenhouse gas impact and a significantly larger share when international emissions are included. Examples are given of how state and local governments can measure and reduce emissions associated with products. Extended Producer Responsibility is discussed as a policy option to reduce the greenhouse gas impact of products.

 

Washington Climate Action Team - Framework EPR Policy

In 2008 the Governors Climate Action Team in Washington State proposed product stewardship and an EPR Framework policy as ways of addressing climate change. 

 

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