Question 1

What are EPR packaging laws, and why do they matter for manufacturers?

Accepted Answer

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) packaging laws make manufacturers financially and operationally responsible for managing their packaging waste at the end of its life. Under these laws, producers must fund recycling, reporting, and waste management programs through Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs).In the U.S., EPR is state-driven, meaning compliance varies by state. Manufacturers must track packaging data, report to the appropriate PRO, and pay eco-modulated fees based on recyclability and material composition.EPR laws support a circular economy, reduce landfill waste, and help manufacturers meet sustainability goals.

Question 2

How do manufacturers comply with EPR packaging requirements?

Accepted Answer

Compliance typically involves four key steps:Register and join the appropriate Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO).Track and report the types, weights, and recyclability of packaging materials placed on the market.Pay PRO fees, which may vary based on packaging recyclability (eco-modulation).Meet recycling and content targets — for example, post-consumer recycled content in plastics and paper.Manufacturers must also monitor updates to avoid gaps in compliance across states. Using centralized EPR compliance software helps automate reporting and ensures data accuracy across jurisdictions.

Question 3

How can manufacturers prepare for EPR compliance and avoid penalties?

Accepted Answer

The best way to avoid EPR compliance risks is through proactive preparation and consistent data management. Start by identifying where your products are sold, what materials your packaging uses, and whether those materials are in scope for EPR programs. From there, establish internal tracking processes and join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) early.Manufacturers can also reduce costs and risk by designing recyclable or reusable packaging, centralizing reporting data, and automating updates across states as new regulations emerge. Investing in an EPR compliance platform helps ensure you meet reporting deadlines, maintain audit-ready documentation, and stay ahead of rapidly changing state requirements.

Question 4

How does Assent help manufacturers manage EPR packaging compliance?

Accepted Answer

Assent helps manufacturers simplify and scale their EPR compliance across multiple U.S. states. The Assent Sustainability Platform centralizes packaging data, automates reporting to Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), and keeps you ahead of evolving requirements.With Assent, you can track material composition, calculate packaging weights, and generate audit-ready reports that align with state-specific EPR laws, from California’s SB 54 to Colorado’s HB 22-1355. The platform also provides real-time regulatory updates, so you’re never caught off guard by new reporting deadlines or scope changes.

Question 5

What is the BIS 50% Rule (Affiliates Rule)?

Accepted Answer

The BIS 50% Rule is a new U.S. export control requirement that extends Entity List and MEU List restrictions to any company that is 50% or more owned (directly or indirectly) by one or more listed entities. This includes subsidiaries, holding companies, offshore structures, and multi-layer corporate ownership.

Question 6

When will the BIS 50% Rule be fully enforced?

Accepted Answer

The rule becomes fully enforceable in November 2026, but early preparation is essential due to the difficulty of uncovering hidden ownership relationships.

Question 7

What are the risks of BIS 50% Rule non-compliance?

Accepted Answer

Organizations face export privilege loss, regulatory penalties, and significant shipment delays. Many companies now search for BIS 50% Rule penalties and export control enforcement as enforcement tightens.

Question 8

How does Assent support BIS 50% Rule compliance?

Accepted Answer

Assent’s Enhanced Entity Screening integrates AI-powered analysis, ownership tracing, and expert review to:Identify complex indirect ownership chainsUncover offshore or layered affiliatesConsolidate beneficial ownership data across jurisdictionsApply OFAC and BIS style 50% ownership logicProduce defensible evidence for audits and licensing decisions

Question 9

What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?

Accepted Answer

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemical substances that resist natural breakdown, remain in the environment for long periods, and build up in living organisms. Examples include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, and dioxins. POPs can travel long distances through air and water, affecting ecosystems and human health worldwide.

Question 10

What is the EU POPs Regulation (EU 2019/1021)?

Accepted Answer

The EU POPs Regulation, also known as Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, is the European Union’s legal framework for controlling persistent organic pollutants. It enforces the Stockholm Convention by restricting or banning POPs production, use, and disposal to prevent environmental contamination.

Question 11

Which industries are most affected by POPs legislation?

Accepted Answer

Industries such as electronics, automotive, textiles, and construction are most affected by persistent organic pollutant (POP) regulations. These sectors often use materials containing POPs, such as flame retardants, lubricants, or plasticizers, and must comply with EU POPs restrictions to continue selling products in the European Union.

Question 12

How can companies ensure compliance with the EU POPs Regulation?

Accepted Answer

To comply with the EU POPs Regulation, companies should collect full material disclosures (FMDs) from suppliers, perform chemical screening to detect POPs, and use Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Compliance software. Ongoing monitoring of new POPs listings under the Stockholm Convention helps maintain compliance as regulations evolve.

Question 13

Why is compliance management becoming a strategic advantage for suppliers?

Accepted Answer

As global regulations evolve toward product sustainability across the entire product life cycle, customers want partners who deliver on transparency as well as compliance.When customers ask for compliance information, they are also evaluating your reliability as a business partner. Suppliers who respond quickly and accurately demonstrate professionalism and build long-term trust. A mature compliance process shows that you are prepared for future regulations and larger opportunities. Instead of seeing compliance as a box to check, think of it as part of your reputation. It proves that you operate responsibly and transparently. With the right tools and consistent processes, even a small supplier can stand out as a trusted and preferred partner in the supply chain.

Question 14

Why is compliance management becoming harder for suppliers to handle manually?

Accepted Answer

Regulations are expanding in scope and complexity, covering areas like chemical use, labor practices, and sustainability. Many suppliers still manage compliance data with spreadsheets or through email, which can work for a few customers but quickly becomes unmanageable as requirements increase. Manual methods make it easy to miss updates, lose important documentation, or duplicate work across customer requests. As larger manufacturers strengthen their oversight, suppliers who cannot deliver complete and consistent data face delays, additional audits, or even lost contracts.

Question 15

What are compliance management data best practices for suppliers?

Accepted Answer

You do not need a large compliance department to manage growing data demands effectively. Strong compliance management begins with visibility: Knowing what materials you use, which regulations apply, and how to share that information confidently with your customers. With Assent’s sustainability platform, you can manage and automate all your compliance data requests in one place. Instead of juggling multiple spreadsheets and emails, our network-driven system connects you to the same platform used by leading manufacturers. That means you can share accurate, complete information across multiple customers at once, cutting down on repetitive work and response time. Assent’s AI-driven tools also help you identify missing data, flag potential risks, and prepare for future requests more easily.

Question 16

What are the most urgent regulatory deadlines compliance managers should prepare for in Q4 2025?

Accepted Answer

Key upcoming dates include California’s EPR packaging reporting deadline (November 15, 2025) and the EU Deforestation Regulation compliance deadline (December 2025). Both require supplier data collection and verified reporting. Other extended timelines, such as PFAS reporting under TSCA (April 2026) and due diligence obligations under the EU Batteries Regulation (August 2027), should also be factored into long-term planning.

Question 17

How should manufacturers approach PFAS phase-outs and evolving chemical reporting laws?

Accepted Answer

Manufacturers should audit their supply chains to identify where PFAS are used in coatings, components, or packaging, and begin developing alternative materials to avoid disruptions. They should also track changes under TSCA Section 8(a)(7) and state-level PFAS bans (such as those in Minnesota and Illinois). Because some PFAS reporting requires historic data dating back to 2011, early data collection is essential to stay compliant and reduce the risk of non-compliance penalties.

Question 18

What practical steps can compliance managers take to stay proactive amid these changes?

Accepted Answer

To stay ahead, compliance managers should:Engage suppliers early to collect accurate, complete data.Centralize compliance records using digital tools that track regulations and reporting requirements.Monitor updates from agencies like the EPA, ECHA, and state authorities to anticipate shifts.Prioritize high-risk areas including PFAS, packaging EPR, and EU product sustainability rules to mitigate costly redesigns or delays.These steps help organizations maintain compliance resilience even as global regulations expand.

Question 19

Why aren’t Safety Data Sheets (SDS) sufficient for product compliance?

Accepted Answer

Safety Data Sheets play an important role in communicating chemical hazards, but they were never designed to prove product compliance. Their scope is limited to hazard communication for substances and mixtures, not finished goods or complex assemblies. Because SDSs vary by region and often omit proprietary or low-percentage substances, they rarely provide a complete picture of what’s inside a product. Manufacturers that rely on SDSs alone risk incomplete data, manual verification work, and exposure to regulatory non-compliance as regulations expand.

Question 20

What causes Full Material Disclosures (FMDs) to become unreliable over time?

Accepted Answer

Full Material Disclosures can initially seem comprehensive, but their accuracy fades quickly. Supplier formulations change, regulatory lists evolve, and proprietary holdbacks can conceal substances that later become restricted. Since FMDs are typically snapshots in time rather than living compliance documents, they can become outdated long before the next reporting cycle. Without a process to continuously update and validate these records, organizations face stale data and blind spots that complicate audits and customer requests.

Question 21

How can companies close the compliance gap between SDS and FMD data?

Accepted Answer

Closing the gap requires a hybrid, data-driven approach. Instead of depending solely on SDSs or FMDs, leading compliance teams combine regulatory declarations, supplier engagement, and automation to maintain accuracy and coverage. This strategy treats material data as a living system — updated, validated, and traceable across the product lifecycle. The result is a more resilient compliance posture, enabling organizations to adapt as regulations, materials, and markets change.

Question 22

Why are compliance data requests getting harder to manage?

Accepted Answer

They’re growing in both volume and complexity. Regulations like PFAS, REACH, and RoHS continue to evolve, often with little notice, and customers frequently ask for slightly different data in unique formats. The result is constant rework and very little time to keep up — even for the most organized teams.

Question 23

What are the main risks of relying on manual processes?

Accepted Answer

Manual tracking through spreadsheets or email introduces both inefficiency and risk. It’s easy for information to get lost, duplicated, or outdated between submissions, and even a single missed update can delay a customer response or cause non-compliance. Over time, these small issues add up to slower workflows and higher stress for compliance teams.Common issues include:Missed regulatory or customer updatesVersion control errorsInconsistent or incomplete data across requests

Question 24

How can technology make compliance work more efficient?

Accepted Answer

The right tools help by centralizing requests, automating routine tasks, and reusing data instead of starting from scratch every time. A platform can store your declarations once, apply them to multiple customers, and update automatically as regulations change.For example:Declarations can be reused across customers and product lines.Regulatory updates are applied automatically within the system.Teams spend less time managing spreadsheets and more time focusing on strategic work.

Question 25

How does the Assent Sustainability Platform support suppliers?

Accepted Answer

Assent’s platform brings compliance management into one system. It shows all your requests in one place, keeps regulatory content up to date, and lets you reuse declarations across customers. By simplifying the process, it helps suppliers stay responsive, confident, and compliant even as demands continue to grow.

Question 26

What’s the difference between a point solution and a platform solution in product compliance?

Accepted Answer

A point solution is a standalone tool built to solve one specific compliance task, like REACH reporting or conflict minerals tracking. It’s efficient for a single use case but doesn’t share data or context with other tools. A platform solution, by contrast, unifies all compliance needs under one connected system. It centralizes supplier, material, and product data so teams can reuse information, automate reporting, and make faster, more informed decisions across multiple regulations.

Question 27

Why do point solutions eventually create complexity for manufacturers?

Accepted Answer

At first, a point solution feels efficient because it solves one immediate problem. But as regulations expand and supply chain data grows, each new point tool adds another silo. Over time, managing multiple databases, supplier surveys, and disconnected reports becomes time-consuming, error-prone, and costly. This fragmentation limits visibility, increases risk, and ultimately slows down compliance teams as requirements multiply.

Question 28

Why are manufacturers shifting from point solutions to platform-based compliance systems?

Accepted Answer

Manufacturers are recognizing that compliance data isn’t static,  it’s interconnected. A platform approach treats compliance as an ecosystem, not a checklist. By consolidating tools, data, and workflows, platform solutions improve data quality, boost supplier engagement, and enable proactive risk management. The result is a more scalable, future-ready compliance program that supports business growth instead of hindering it.

Question 29

Why should compliance programs get budget priority during uncertain economic conditions?

Accepted Answer

Because compliance directly protects market access, revenue, and brand reputation. Cutting back can expose your company to costly risks, from shipment delays under trade restrictions to lawsuits tied to PFAS or forced labor laws. Investing in compliance now prevents expensive disruptions later.

Question 30

What's the measurable ROI of compliance investments?

Accepted Answer

Compliance delivers clear, measurable ROI across efficiency, cost, and risk reduction. Key results include:Labor efficiency: Automation reduces manual work by up to 80%, freeing teams to focus on analysis and strategy.Cost savings: Streamlined supplier engagement and reduced consultant fees can save the equivalent of 10–20 full-time employees (FTEs) each year.Risk avoidance: Preventing shipment delays, fines, and lawsuits protects millions in annual revenue and safeguards market access.Time-to-market: Automated reporting cuts response times by up to 80%, helping products reach customers faster.Customer trust: Reliable, verified compliance data strengthens relationships and supports long-term growth.

Question 31

What results have companies achieved with Assent?

Accepted Answer

Assent customers like Ryerson and Argon Medical Devices report up to 80% less manual work, 50% lower resource costs, and faster compliance reporting across thousands of products. These measurable results show how Assent turns compliance from a cost center into a growth driver.

Question 32

What to look for in a supply chain sustainability management software?

Accepted Answer

A strong platform does more than collect supplier data, it should also help you stay compliant as regulations evolve and proactively identify risks. Look for product compliance software that combines regulatory updates, automated data validation, and support from regulatory experts.  The best solutions turn complex compliance demands into clear, actionable insights that give you a competitive advantage. Ask potential vendors for customer success stories and independent third-party analysis of their platform.

Question 33

What should organizations look for when evaluating data security in supply chain management software?

Accepted Answer

Data protection should be treated as a core business risk, not a technical detail. Look for software providers that follow recognized security frameworks such as SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001, apply encryption and access controls, and maintain transparency around data storage, ownership, and governance.

Question 34

How does supply chain sustainability management software keep up with changing regulations?

Accepted Answer

Regulations like REACH, RoHS, and PFAS restrictions evolve constantly, making it critical that your software provider stays ahead of updates. Assent’s in-house regulatory experts continuously monitor and interpret global compliance changes, ensuring the platform, substance lists, and templates are updated in real time. This expert-driven approach means you’re always working with the most current information, supported by specialists who understand how new laws impact your products and market access.

U.S. EPR Packaging Laws by State

The BIS 50% Rule (Affiliates Rule): Get Prepared Now

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification & Its Impact On the Defense Supply Chain

Framework for Product Sustainability: Key Regulatory Dates

Understanding Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Compliance

Framework for Product Sustainability: Key Regulatory Dates

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: A CFO’s Guide to Product Compliance & Supply Chain Sustainability

How Smart Suppliers Save Time On Compliance Management

Assent Recognizes Manufacturers for Leading Supply Chain Sustainability Programs

Assent Sustainability Platform (ASP) Product Tour

Compliance Alert: Q4 2025 Regulatory Shifts & Next Steps

Why a Full Material Disclosure or SDS Can’t Fill the Compliance Gap Alone

How to Manage an Inbox Full of Compliance Requests

Product Compliance Software: Platforms vs. Point Solutions

Why Reducing Compliance Risk Is Always a Wise Investment

Know Before You Buy: 5 Questions for Supply Chain Software Vendors

Tag: Supply Chain Sustainability

U.S. EPR Packaging Laws by State

The BIS 50% Rule (Affiliates Rule): Get Prepared Now

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification & Its Impact On the Defense Supply Chain

Framework for Product Sustainability: Key Regulatory Dates

Understanding Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Compliance

Framework for Product Sustainability: Key Regulatory Dates

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: A CFO’s Guide to Product Compliance & Supply Chain Sustainability

How Smart Suppliers Save Time On Compliance Management

Assent Recognizes Manufacturers for Leading Supply Chain Sustainability Programs

Assent Sustainability Platform (ASP) Product Tour

Compliance Alert: Q4 2025 Regulatory Shifts & Next Steps

Why a Full Material Disclosure or SDS Can’t Fill the Compliance Gap Alone

How to Manage an Inbox Full of Compliance Requests

Product Compliance Software: Platforms vs. Point Solutions

Why Reducing Compliance Risk Is Always a Wise Investment

Know Before You Buy: 5 Questions for Supply Chain Software Vendors

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