About Circular Action Alliance
Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is a U.S. Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) dedicated to implementing effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for paper and packaging. As a nonprofit, producer-led organization, CAA is committed to delivering harmonized, best-in-class compliance services to all producers to advance an efficient and effective circular economy.
CAA is the only organization approved to implement U.S. EPR laws for paper and packaging, and is operating as the single PRO in California and Colorado. CAA has submitted an initial program plan to operate as the PRO in Oregon, and has also been selected to represent producer interests as the PRO on the State Producer Responsibility Advisory Council in Maryland.
Mission
CAA helps producers comply with EPR laws, delivers harmonized best-in-class services and works with governments, businesses and communities to reduce waste and recycle more.
Founding Members
CAA was founded and is governed by 20 producers representing the food, beverage, consumer goods, and retail industries.
Strategic Operating Principles
Deliver cost-efficient extended producer responsibility services through scale of operations, harmonization of service delivery, and program planning consistency across states wherever possible.
Improve consumers’ experience with recycling services by equipping residents with the information required to raise recycling rates and build public confidence in producer-led recycling programs/systems.
Support the optimization of recycling facilities to increase the recovery of recyclable materials and enable circular systems for paper, packaging, and food service ware in extended producer responsibility states.
Ensure a level playing field for producers by working with regulators to reduce free riders and providing clear and consistent guidance on reporting to ensure each producer pays their fair share for extended producer responsibility programs.
Support and incentivize innovation in packaging design to reduce waste and enhance recyclability.
Support producers with access to high-quality recycled materials for use as recycled content in new products and packaging.
Enhance the collection of covered materials by increasing consumers’ access to recycling services and measures to reduce contamination.
Provide strong producer governance of extended producer responsibility programs and effective representation of producers’ priorities.
Develop program plans, policies and plan amendments through robust data collection, evidenced-based decision-making and meaningful stakeholder collaboration and consultation.
Develop and support viable responsible end markets for covered materials that maximize the value of recycled commodities as required by extended producer responsibility laws.
Support alternative collection systems for compostable, reusable and refillable packaging as required by extended producer responsibility laws.