From September 16-18, OPLN’s CIRCLE program will host a two-day summit at the See Change conference in Burlington, Vermont. This gathering—The 2026–2027 EPR Launchpad—will serve as a strategic touchpoint for packaging policy leaders across the country.

The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2), is scheduled to take place from 5 to 14 August 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The resumed session will be preceded by regional consultations on 4 August 2025.

Between June 9 - 12, 2025, CIRCLE will bring multi-stakeholder leaders to Montréal, Québec to gain hands-on experience with circular systems in action.

Join this unique plenary to hear directly from the legislators behind Maryland’s newly passed EPR legislation and Illinois’ closely watched joint EPR-DRS bill. Gain insight into how these bills were developed, lessons from Maryland’s needs assessment process, and how both states are shaping the next wave of circular policy in the U.S.

This invitation-only event on will bring together stakeholders across the entire material and packaging ecosystem, including government officials, NGOs, scientists, alternatives-to-plastics producers, and upstream, midstream, and downstream industry participants, to collaborate on Guidelines for Chemicals of Concern (COC) for Plastic Alternatives, and Non-Plastic Substitutes ahead of Global Plastic Pollution Treaty INC 5.2 negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland on August 5 -14th. The Chemicals of Concern Policy Summit will include one targeted technical day (April 22) focused on global policy to begin the year-long APLN stakeholder process, and one day (April 23) open to U.S. Policymakers, Regulatory Agencies, and the Media focused on U.S Policy. The summit will produce an output to inform U.S. policymakers and regulatory agencies, Global Treaty negotiators, and international chemical conventions, including the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions.

In March 2025, the United States saw major developments in EPR for packaging legislation. Development of a federal EPR framework to inform a bill began, and implementation of California's SB 54 legislation was postponed. On April 10, multi-stakeholder leaders – including the legislation writers and implementers – will reflect on learning, challenges, opportunities, and national & state-level impact.

OPLN is pleased to host its first 2025 virtual plenary for its dedicated CIRCLE network. Through segments like the "US Circular Policy Navigator", "Writer's Room" & "Implementer's Insights", CIRCLE virtual plenaries offer direct engagement with the legislators, policy experts, regulators, and value chain stakeholders behind passed and developing circular policies.

The Pacific Northwest Technical Expedition 2024, will focus on deposit return systems (DRS) and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. Scheduled for May 15th - 17th in the Pacific Northwest (British Columbia & Oregon), this three-day expedition offers participants hands-on experiences and insights into active policy mechanisms. Our goal is to encourage collaboration among policy makers, bill writers, and industry stakeholders across the packaging value chain. By harmonizing EPR and DRS policies in the United States, we aim to drive progress in this critical area. Through direct engagement with established systems in the Pacific Northwest, participants will gain valuable knowledge and tools to contribute effectively to policy development.

The Alternative Materials Forum kicks off its inaugural session in May at the Atlantic Packaging Solution Center in Charlotte, NC. This pivotal gathering will focus on aligning stakeholders on the scope of discussions. Over six virtual sessions spanning May to July and October, participants will collaboratively shape the future of innovative materials, establishing official recommendations and fostering groundbreaking advancements.

Building on WWF's inaugural Plastic Policy Summit in March 2023, Summit 2024 will bring together stakeholders across the plastics value chain to workshop and consider new initiatives that will address plastic pollution in the United States. The Summit will create a space that challenges all stakeholders to push beyond the status quo to align on what more is possible – especially as policy efforts advance at the local, state, federal, and global levels. Summit 2024 will showcase emerging commitments through plenary sessions paired with interactive breakouts, workshops, and roundtables focused on advancing joint actions. 

The Reusies® celebrates the pioneers, the trailblazers, the innovators and game-changing heroes who are developing a better way than throw-away, advancing systemic change and co-creating a world where we can get what we need and want without all the waste.

Eighth Global Plastics Treaty Dialogues

OPLN Member Session: December 2022

Seventh Global Treaty Dialogues

UK Dialogues Opening Session

Second Global Treaty Dialogues: Americas/Africa/Europe

-40 participants -90 capacity building hours

Today's sustainability professional is under pressure to do more