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The Packaging EPR Lawsuit You’re Not Watching—But Should Be

By Allen Kacenjar, Phil Sandick, Jennifer Tharp and Nicole Bothwell on Posted in Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental
If you follow extended producer responsibility (EPR) litigation, your inbox has been full of updates about Oregon.  For good reason: the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) filed suit in federal court in July 2025 challenging the constitutionality of Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, secured a preliminary injunction in February 2026, and has a trial date … Continue Reading

UK Parliamentary Committee Publishes Report on PFAS Risks

By Francesca Puttock on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental, Environmental Due Diligence, Food Safety, Food-Contact Materials and Articles, Health & Safety, Supply Chain, Water Quality
It has been a couple of months since the UK PFAS Plan was published and made countless headlines. Today (23 April 2026), having gathered evidence as part of a parliamentary inquiry, the House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee (“EAC“) published a report titled ‘Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)‘. The report summarises … Continue Reading

Defra releases anticipated ‘PFAS Plan’

By Francesca Puttock on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Environmental, Food Safety, Food-Contact Materials and Articles, Health & Safety, Supply Chain
Today we published an update on Defra’s PFAS Plan: “UK Government Releases PFAS Plan Teased in December 2025“. This plan features among the commitments made in the Environmental Improvement Plan made public at the end of last year. It is generally recognised that the UK needs a plan for PFAS management, but in the hours … Continue Reading

‘A New Vision for Water’ – Defra’s White Paper and Other January 2026 Developments

By Caroline Almond, Francesca Puttock, Cristina Vela Gonzalez and Jody Li on Posted in Environmental, Uncategorized, Water Quality, Water Rights & Resource Management
It has been a busy start to the new year for water law and policy with various developments published in the last couple of weeks. Following the release in December 2025 of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which lists a number of commitments on water, Defra published a long awaited Water White Paper this week … Continue Reading

Unraveling California’s Web of Climate Disclosure Laws, Part 3: Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act (AB 1305)

By Alex Arensberg, Lianne Mantione, Jennifer Tharp and Nicole Bothwell on Posted in Administrative Law Corner, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental, Environmental Protection, Rulemaking & Policy Development
California is forging a path for climate disclosure with its series of related legal frameworks requiring covered entities to disclose climate-related information, supporting documentation for certain net zero claims and financial risk frameworks. In October 2023, California became the first state to enact such broad climate disclosure legislation, with the passage of the: Entities covered … Continue Reading

Unraveling California’s Web of Climate Disclosure Laws, Part 2: Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253)

By Alex Arensberg, Lianne Mantione, Jennifer Tharp and Nicole Bothwell on Posted in Administrative Law Corner, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental, Environmental Protection, Rulemaking & Policy Development
California is forging a path for climate disclosure with its series of related legal frameworks requiring covered entities to disclose climate-related information, supporting documentation for certain net zero claims and financial risk frameworks. In October 2023, California became the first state to enact such broad climate disclosure legislation, with the passage of the: Entities covered … Continue Reading

Unraveling California’s Web of Climate Disclosure Laws, Part 1: Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261)

By Alex Arensberg, Lianne Mantione, Jennifer Tharp and Nicole Bothwell on Posted in Administrative Law Corner, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental, Environmental Protection, Rulemaking & Policy Development
California is forging a path for climate disclosure with its series of related legal frameworks requiring covered entities to disclose climate-related information, supporting documentation for certain net zero claims and financial risk frameworks. In October 2023, California became the first state to enact such broad climate disclosure legislation, with the passage of the: Entities covered … Continue Reading

Consultation on Modernising the Environmental Permitting Regime for Industrial Activities

By Begonia Filgueira on Posted in Industrial Emissions, Solid & Hazardous Waste
On 26 August 2025, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) launched a consultation to reform how industrial activities are regulated in England. DEFRA is also working alongside Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so similar changes are likely to take place in those administrations. The consultation excludes waste operations, mining waste operations, radioactive … Continue Reading

Trump Administration: Major Changes May Be Coming in the Federal Government’s Posture Toward Electric Vehicles (EV’s)

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Environmental, Rulemaking & Policy Development
Automotive manufacturers, regulators and consumers face considerable uncertainty on how the incoming Trump Administration will attempt to reshape the automotive industry when President Donald Trump returns to the White House on January 20, 2025. Significant changes are on the horizon, with President Trump’s major campaign themes, including protectionist trade policies and an “all of the … Continue Reading

UK REACH: Awaited Consultation on Policy Direction for Registration of Chemicals

By Francesca Puttock and Molly McKenna on Posted in Brexit, Chemicals & Products, Environmental, Health & Safety, Product Safety
The most anticipated developments for 2024 in UK chemicals regulation are the long-awaited publication of the UK’s Chemicals Strategy, and a consultation on the UK government’s alternative transitional registration model (ATRm). In November 2023, a policy paper was issued outlining the government’s high-level plans for ATRm, but the questions and details for stakeholders are still … Continue Reading

US EPA’s Draft Revisions to Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis

By Kendra Sherman and Katherine Wenner on Posted in Environmental
Our team at Squire Patton Boggs monitors environmental justice (EJ) developments and provides periodic updates regarding environmental justice topics.  Recently, US EPA released draft revisions to its Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (EJ Technical Guidance), and US EPA is currently seeking public comments through January 15, 2024.  … Continue Reading

Windsor Framework: Deadline for Businesses to Register for New Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme Approaches

By Nicola Smith and Francesca Puttock on Posted in Brexit, Environmental, Food Safety, Health & Safety, Product Safety
From October 2023, a broad range of products moving from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI) (and that are intended for “final consumption” in NI) will be processed through a “green lane” and be subject to fewer checks and controls. While this will ultimately facilitate movements of various products, there are implications for businesses … Continue Reading

US Supreme Court Narrows the Definition of “Waters of the United States” with Respect to Wetlands for Purposes of Federal Jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act

By Carolyn L. McIntosh, Rees Alexander and Charli Davis on Posted in Clean Water Act, Environmental, Waters of the United States
On May 25, 2023, the US Supreme Court, in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, ___ US_ (2023) (“Sackett”) held that “waters of the United States” for purposes of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) refer “only to geographical features that are described in ordinary parlance as “streams, oceans, rivers and lakes’ and to … Continue Reading

Plastic Packaging Tax: Proposed Updates to Recycled Content Definition to Facilitate Chemical Recycling

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Environmental, Rulemaking & Policy Development
The UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) was introduced in April 2022. It was initially set at £200 per tonne (£210.82 since April 2023) and applies to importers and manufacturers of plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has been seeking to raise more awareness of PPT and has indicated that the … Continue Reading

Heavy-Duty Regulatory Update: Reviewing US EPA’s Waiver for CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks Regulations and US EPA’s Proposed Phase 3 GHG Emissions Standards

By Katherine Wenner and Jennifer Tharp on Posted in Air Quality, Environmental, Rulemaking & Policy Development
Our team at Squire Patton Boggs monitors developments surrounding the heavy-duty vehicle and engine sector.  Our last blog post on this topic covered updates on US EPA’s proposed Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards and California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) rulemaking for off-road diesel engine regulations.  In this … Continue Reading

Reviewing US EPA’s New Cybersecurity Evaluation Requirements in Sanitary Surveys Conducted at Public Water Systems

By Katherine Wenner on Posted in Clean Water Act, Environmental, Municipal Utilities
Previously, we discussed the Biden-Harris Administration’s emphasis on cybersecurity in the water utility sector.  This month, the Administration continued that trend by issuing a final memorandum interpreting the regulatory requirements pertaining to public water system (PWS) sanitary surveys to require that states evaluate operational technology for cybersecurity when conducting the periodic sanitary surveys.  A fact … Continue Reading

Deposit return scheme: Circularity Scotland hails “milestone” producer registration and reaffirms August 2023 launch date amid growing scepticism

By Nicola Smith and Francesca Puttock on Posted in Alcohol, Food and Entertainment Licensing, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental, Food Safety, Product Safety, Uncategorized
With a planned launch date of 16 August 2023, the pressure is on for the Scottish government to deliver the deposit return scheme (“DRS”) for drinks containers. Despite increased scrutiny of industry readiness, Circularity Scotland (“CSL”) reaffirmed on 2 March that the scheme is on track and that producers responsible for more than 95% of … Continue Reading

New and Updated Guidance on the Scope of the UK Plastic Packaging Tax

By Oliver Bristow on Posted in Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental
The Plastic Packaging Tax (the Tax) came into force on 1 April 2022 and applies to finished plastic packaging components (PPC) produced for commercial purposes or imported into the UK that contain less than 30% recycled plastic by weight. Since our previous article and our FAQ for businesses explaining the Tax, HMRC has updated its original guidance … Continue Reading

Greenwashing: UK Regulator Investigation and Further Guidance for Businesses

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Environmental, Rulemaking & Policy Development
The UK Regulator – the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) – continues to be active in cracking down on misleading green claims, this time targeting the fast-moving consumer goods industry (“FMCG”). In this piece, our IP and Technology colleagues discuss the FMCG investigation and the Advertising Standards Authority’s (“ASA“) pursuit of misleading green claims. Read the … Continue Reading

EU Proposal for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Environmental, Rulemaking & Policy Development
The European Commission has tabled a proposal for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation – a cornerstone initiative aiming to revolutionise the industry by common, EU-wide rules for packaging circularity. In this article, we look at the new rules in more detail as it introduces an array of new rules with regards to packaging that is … Continue Reading

US EPA Proposed Clean Air Act Endangerment Finding Targets Aviation Fuel

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Air Quality, Environmental, Environmental Protection
Lead was once a common additive in fuels, paints, glasses, batteries, pipes, ceramics, and more.  As the health effects of lead exposure came to be better known, Congress and EPA began targeting lead pollution under a variety of laws and regulations governing air and water pollution, including the Toxic Substances Control Act, Residential Lead-Based Paint … Continue Reading
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