Better together. That’s been a two-word mantra for HCPA President and CEO Steve Caldeira for years. No surprise then, that in his state of the association speech during IMPACT2022, the Household & Commercial Products Association’s Mid-Year Meeting last month in Washington DC, Caldeira highlighted several initiatives within and without the Association that are already bearing fruit in State Capitals, the Nation’s Capital and outside the US, too.

Caldeira noted that Mike Gruber, HCPA’s new SVP-government relations and public policy, is listening to members and executing HCPA legislative and public policy strategies at both the federal and state levels.

“Recognizing that the EPA has been understaffed and underfunded in recent years and knowing how important our relationship with the Agency is, Mike began advocating for Congress to pass the EPA’s proposed fiscal year 2023 budget in full, with spending priorities for the Pesticides Licensing Program, Safer Choice, and Chemical Risk Review and Reduction under the Pollution Prevention Program,” explained Caldeira.

To underscore the importance of this request, in April, Caldeira wrote an op-ed piece for The Hill. In it, he noted the Agency has been underfunded and understaffed for years. As a result, there’s been a backlog of new chemicals and products awaiting EPA approval. Caldeira recalled that when the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) went into effect in 2003, EPA had nearly 1000 employees in its Office of Pesticide Programs. Today, there are only 600.

“However, we, along with our allied trades, believe the Agency should engage in process improvements to make pre-market review programs more efficient, consistent and predictable,” said Caldeira.

He explained that companies rely and flourish on certainty and deserve to know how long it will take to get their products to market.

“This has been a significant focus of ongoing discussions between the EPA and members of the PRIA Coalition as they negotiate PRIA V,” said Caldeira.

In another EPA-related issue, Congress has directed EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to require comprehensive reporting of the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products. HCPA said the endeavor could be an overwhelming undertaking for both small and large companies.

Bethany In Earns Glauberman Scholarship Award Bethany In received the HCPA Glauberman Scholarship Award during Impact2022. She will attend Northeastern University in the Fall. The scholarship recognizes an outstanding student who excels outside the classroom. In is an AP Scholar with Distinction, earned Honor Roll for four years, received the President’s Education Award, was Summa Cum Laude in the National Latin Exam for four years and earned the Seal of Biliteracy in both Latin and Chinese. The award recipient also has a passion for helping others and volunteers for community events at her church that promote physical and mental health, which has inspired her to pursue a career in the medical field. During covid-19, In partnered with Our Community Dinner Table to distribute hot meals to those in need and organized a GoFundMe with her brother that raised more than $5,000 to provide PPE to frontline workers in her community.

At the same time, HCPA is committed to working with allied trades to establish a national ingredient communication standard based on the California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act that HCPA advocated for and was passed into law in 2017. Caldeira said a federal solution will establish consistency across state lines and help consumers make informed decisions and feel confident in the products they use.

According to Caldeira, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a looming state issue, too. He said industry supports a shared responsibility across the packaging value chain to address waste management that involves state and local governments, waste management entities, producers and consumers.

To manage EPR, HCPA established an EPR/Packaging Working Group. Made up of 52 companies, it will develop a strategy and statement of policy principles that will guide its legislative and regulatory evaluation of EPR programs. These principles will be posted on thehcpa.org, pushed out on social media, and used by member companies as a reference for developing or expanding their own policies and strategies.

“The push for EPR is part of a larger transition to an environmentally and socially sustainable economy,” said Caldeira.

State & International Issues

In the meantime, HCPA continues to meet every week with Albany, NY-based stakeholders. Caldeira reminded attendees that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation will have an impact on the national standard. Also at the state level, California recently introduced legislation that prohibits the use of microplastics in waxes, polishes and detergents, including encapsulated fragrance. The association is requesting amendments to align the bill with certain components of the EU, and the bill’s author publicly stated his intent to fulfill that goal.

At the international level, Nicholas Georges, HCPA’s SVP-scientific and international affairs, is coordinating with allied trades around the world to ensure there is alignment on issues such as VOC regulations in Canada and Mexico, and Europe’s Green Deal.

HCPA has dedicated resources to additional sustainability programs and advocacy efforts. Molly Blessing, HCPA’s director of sustainability, recently launched the Sustainability & Product Stewardship Council (SPSC). It will serve as a forward-looking, trusted voice and acknowledged leader in driving product stewardship and sustainability efforts by developing, coordinating and managing sustainability activities for members, according to the association.

Aerosol Can Initiative

Another example of collaboration is the Aerosol Recycling Initiative (ARI). Created by HCPA and The Can Manufacturers Institute, the initiative’s two quantitative, time-bound goals are to achieve, by 2030, at least an 85% recycling access rate for all aerosol cans and label at least 90% of aerosols as recyclable with messaging about how to properly recycle them. At press time, the program had the support of almost 20 companies across the aerosol value chain.

But Georges wants more.

“The aerosol delivery system is unique, it provides a great user experience with unparalleled uses,” noted Georges. “But what happens at end-of-life? This program will help ensure US households have access to an aerosol recycling program.”

Georges pointed out that marketers always seek new ways to connect with consumers. The Aerosol Recycling Initiative gives companies one more way to stand out from their competition on crowded store shelves.

During the mid-year meeting, attendees had an opportunity to visit a local Montgomery County, MD materials recovery facility. It was evident that steel and aluminum were highly sought-after materials. But one issue is availability. Not every facility accepts aerosols. At the same time, consumers are confused about the viability of recycling aerosols.

Working with CMI, HCPA will develop program guidelines and quantify the value of aerosol can recycling. Georges expects to unveil the ARI playbook later this year or early in 2023. Discussions are underway on a variety of topics, including on-pack recyclability messaging. But Blessing noted that the collaboration is guidance, not a rulebook.

“With labor shortages and supply chain issues to deal with, companies already have a lot on their plates,” she explained.