In this episode of Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors, Cory sits down with Mikey Pasciuto to explore SCRAPP’s evolution from a recycling app to a comprehensive zero-waste platform. Mikey shares insights on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), operational waste costs, and why businesses should design for efficiency rather than just policy. They dive into real-world examples, challenges in recycling infrastructure, and how SCRAPP helps brands navigate complex waste streams and regulations.

Key Topics Discussed:

• SCRAPP’s journey: from barcode-scanning recycling app to full-service waste accounting platform
• The role of data in predicting and reducing waste generation
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): what it means for brands and why it matters
• Operational costs of waste management and strategies to reduce them
• Real-world case studies: balancing packaging design, food waste reduction, and EPR fees
• Why designing for operations beats designing for policy
• The importance of recycled content mandates and eco-modulation
• Challenges in recycling markets, infrastructure funding, and material economics
• Standardization of recycling rules vs. local market realities
• Universal landfill bans and their impact on creating new recycling markets

Resources Mentioned:

• SCRAPP Zero Waste Platform
• Oregon Recycling Modernization Act
• Carton Council recycling grants
• Toyota Kanban and Six Sigma principles (applied to packaging logistics)

Contact:

To learn more or connect with Mikey:
Website: www.scrappzero.com
LinkedIn: Mikey Pasciuto

Closing Thoughts:

Mikey emphasizes that EPR fees should be viewed as part of doing business, not as a barrier to sustainability. By focusing on operational efficiency and informed packaging decisions, companies can reduce costs, minimize waste, and support a circular economy. Cory and Mikey agree: the future of packaging lies in balancing performance, recyclability, and system-wide thinking.

Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/

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