CRI Working With PMA on Sustainability Issues

Dalton, GA, Sept. 30, 2011 -- The Carpet and Rug Institute is taking a key role in the Product Management Alliance, an inter-industry partnership designed to promote market-based solutions for extended producer responsibility.

A Sept. 27 press release states that the group's mission is to "support voluntary market-based extended producer responsibility efforts and voluntary incentives for increased recovery and sustainable product and package design."

The alliance also represents the electronics, toys, paper, packaging and transportation materials, mattresses, plastics, personal goods, and pharmaceuticals industries. CRI Government Relations Director Jennifer Mendez currently serves as PMA treasurer.

According to the press release distributed by PMA Executive Director Daniel Connelly, "The Product Management Alliance will work to address its members' concerns relating to government policies that mandate extended producer responsibility and programs that shift the costs of product collection solely to the manufacturer."

California's Carpet Stewardship Bill, the nation's first-ever extended producer responsibility legislation that specifically addresses carpet, went into effect July 1.

The legislation, which is designed to incentivize carpet recycling with funds collected through a 5-cent per square yard assessment on carpet sold or shipped into California, is also the first product stewardship bill to regulate a non-hazardous product. Similar bills are either pending or under consideration in several states.