OPLN’s CIRCLE 2026-27 EPR Launchpad @ See Change
September 17–18, 2025
On September 17 & 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.
Our goal: to surface actionable insights, build trust across stakeholder lines, and catalyze momentum ahead of the most consequential legislative years in U.S. circular policy history.
Through CIRCLE’s technical expeditions and virtual plenaries, we have convened multi-stakeholder leaders across the seven U.S. states with passed EPR and nearly all states with developing legislation, and the momentum is continuing. 2026 and 2027 are expected to be watershed years for circular policies, with New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Vermont, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Tennessee, New Mexico, and more actively exploring similar legislation.
This is a moment of unprecedented opportunity.
What we’ve heard repeatedly from state leaders and stakeholders: there is a hunger for cross-state learning and alignment. Legislators, PROs, agencies, brands, NGOs, & material processors all want to understand what’s working, what’s not, what’s worth adapting - and who has the expertise.
A detailed program will be released leading up to the event. This is not your typical presentation-heavy conference. Participants will make multi-stakeholder connections through a series of guided exchange sessions, Q&A with policymakers, and collaborative stakeholder mapping.
Leave with:
- An “ecosystem map” of U.S. EPR & circular policy stakeholders, their pain points, what they see as working - and where it's working
- Deeper ties with legislators, brand leaders, NGOs, regulators, and recyclers
- A stronger foundation for future CIRCLE expeditions and case studies
Collaborative Learning - Join the Momentum
Recommended attendees for the EPR Launchpad include:
- Legislators, staff, and policy advisors from states that have passed or plan to introduce EPR for packaging legislation between 2026 - 2027
- Legislators considering parallel EPR & deposit return bills
- Sustainability, compliance, procurement, & government affairs leads for CPGs & retailers
- Sustainability, compliance, procurement & government affairs leads for materials producers (plastic, glass, aluminum, paper, & other alternatives or substitutes)
- Material recyclers & waste management representatives
- Policy and sustainability leads for NGOs
- Producer Responsibility Organization leadership and state-level leads
The event is held in Burlington, Vermont at the South End Arts & Innovation District, overlooking the shores of Lake Champlain. The venue’s address is 50 Lakeside Ave, Burlington, VT 05401.
OPLN’s CIRCLE programming will take place on September 17 and 18. Registration and scholarships cover attendance for the 17th and 18th.
The larger See Change conference takes place between September 16 - 18. Please note registration for the CIRCLE 2026-27 EPR Launchpad does not include entrance to See Change’s “Adventure Day” on September 16.
Hotels: Participants are responsible for booking their own travel and hotels. The See Change Conference has partnership rates at the following hotels for conference attendees. If you are a scholarship recipient, please wait for booking instructions:
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Windjammer
- Hotel Vermont
- Courtyard Marriott
- Lang House: call their front desk (802) 652-2500 to make the reservation
Travel:
- Closest Airport: Burlington International Airport (BTV)
- Train Station: Burlington, Vermont — Union Station
- Bus Stop: Burlington Downtown Transit Ctr in Burlington, VT
If driving, attendees must park in the offsite lot at 125 Lakeside Avenue which is a 5-minute walk from the main venue. See Change will provide attendees a code to park.
*See additional information on the See Change FAQ site
Day-Of
The venue’s address is 50 Lakeside Ave, Burlington, VT 05401. The main entrance is ‘Building 50’ on the south (Lakeside Avenue) side of the building.
See Change will provide shuttles between partner hotels and the event venue on Wednesday, September 17 & Thursday, September 18.
Timetables and details for the CIRCLE programming will be shared ahead of the event.
FAQ for CIRCLE 2026-27 EPR Launchpad
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