As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations continue to take hold across the U.S. and globally, fishing and outdoor brands are under growing pressure to improve the sustainability of their packaging. At the same time, consumers are demanding eco-friendly, low-impact packaging from the brands they love and trust.
At Emerger Strategies, we help small- to medium-sized fishing and outdoor companies navigate this changing landscape with sustainable packaging solutions that make good business sense. Our services simplify compliance, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen brand reputation.
Why Sustainable Packaging Matters Now
Sustainable packaging is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s a must-have for:
- Retail compliance with companies like REI, Walmart, and Target who have their own Zero Waste goals
- EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) regulations in states like California, Oregon, Colorado, and Maine
- Meeting the rising expectations of conscious consumers
- Reducing packaging waste that pollutes rivers, lakes, and oceans
Whether you’re selling fishing gear, outdoor apparel, or hard goods, your packaging footprint matters—to regulators, retailers, and your customers. Here’s a recent blog Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging: 2025 Deadlines by State and a link to the Circular Action Alliance for more detailed information.
How Emerger Strategies Helps You Transition to Sustainable Packaging
We work closely with fishing and outdoor brands to assess, design, and implement packaging solutions that check all the right boxes. Here’s how we help:
1. Packaging Assessment & Inventory
We start by evaluating your current packaging formats and materials to identify environmental risks and EPR liabilities.
2. Recommend Sustainable Alternatives
We identify recyclable, compostable, or reusable packaging options tailored to your product, budget, and distribution model.
3. Data Collection for EPR Reporting
We help you gather and structure packaging data—like material weights and recyclability—to simplify state and national EPR compliance filings.
4. Compliance Documentation & Strategy
We prepare and manage your documentation to ensure full EPR compliance while reducing your regulatory risk.
5. Cost & Impact Optimization
We redesign packaging to minimize material use, lower EPR fees, and reduce your environmental footprint without compromising performance.
The Environmental Case for Sustainable Packaging
Sustainable packaging offers significant environmental benefits by reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and minimizing pollution. By using recyclable, compostable, or reusable materials, brands can help divert packaging waste from landfills and oceans—protecting critical ecosystems like rivers, lakes, and coastal habitats. Sustainable packaging also typically requires less energy and water to produce, lowering greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain. For fishing and outdoor brands in particular, adopting more sustainable packaging is a powerful way to preserve the wild places their customers love to explore, while actively contributing to a cleaner, healthier planet.
The Business Case for Sustainable Packaging
Investing in sustainable packaging isn’t just about compliance—it’s about positioning your brand for long-term success:
- ✅ Lower regulatory and EPR compliance costs
- ✅ Improve retail readiness and meet buyer expectations
- ✅ Increase consumer trust and brand loyalty
- ✅ Reduce environmental impact
- ✅ Differentiate your brand in a crowded marketplace
Who We Work With
Our clients are small- to medium-sized fishing and outdoor brands who want to:
- Sell to large retailers with sustainability requirements
- Prepare for and comply with EPR regulations
- Improve packaging sustainability but don’t have a full-time team to do it
- Align packaging with brand values around conservation and stewardship
Ready to Simplify Sustainable Packaging?
At Emerger Strategies, we simplify sustainability—so you can focus on growing your brand and protecting the places you love to fish and explore.
Emerger Strategies is your trusted partner for navigating EPR for packaging and building a more sustainable, resilient business.
Let’s simplify sustainability together—contact us today to get started!
Also, we just released our first episode in the 4-part series called The Rise of Sustainability Regulations on The Sustainable Angler podcast, so stay tuned as our EPR episode drops this Friday, 6/6/25!
