Audience:
Open industry. All apparel and footwear industry professionals, regardless of AAFA membership, are encouraged to participate.
Description:
Since August 12, 2026, the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has been in force, yet many apparel and footwear brands are still trying to decipher exactly what this means for their global supply chains.
It is no longer just about minimizing waste. Brands must now navigate complex new requirements for Declarations of Conformity (DoC) and chemical restrictions on packaging materials, including heavy metals and Substances of Concern (SoCs). For many, the first challenge is simply determining their exact legal role within the packaging lifecycle, and this is just the beginning, with labelling requirements arriving in 2028 and recyclability and recycled-content targets phasing in from 2030.
Join us as we walk through the PPWR timeline and turn it into a compliance approach you can actually use. You'll walk away knowing how to get your paperwork in order and how smarter chemical testing can protect your brand.
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
- What's already required under PPWR today, and what's coming in 2028 and 2030.
- How to determine your organization's legal role in the packaging lifecycle.
- Which chemical requirements apply to you.
Speaker:
Dr. Pratik Ichhaporia
VP Technical Services, Consumer Products - North America
Eurofins
Dr. Pratik Ichhaporia is a recognized expert in quality, safety, and environmental issues affecting the textiles, toys, and hardlines industries. As the Vice President of Technical Services for Consumer Product Testing North America at Eurofins, Dr. Ichhaporia has extensive experience in guiding companies through complex compliance landscapes. He leads efforts in developing and implementing robust compliance programs, helping brands navigate regulatory challenges such as California Proposition 65, REACH, and other chemical management regulations.
Dr. Ichhaporia’s work involves not only advising clients but also actively engaging with regulatory and standards bodies like AATCC, ASTM, and ISO. He contributes to the development of standards that shape industry practices, ensuring they align with evolving legislative and safety requirements. His hands-on experience with compliance program implementation, legislative monitoring, and industry standards development makes him uniquely positioned to address the compliance challenges facing today's consumer product companies.
AAFA Host:
Conor O’Brien
Sustainability Policy Specialist
AAFA
Conor O'Brien joined AAFA's policy team in 2024 as its Sustainability Policy Coordinator after completing his Masters in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University. Prior to joining AAFA, Conor worked for several years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boston, where he engaged with RCRA compliance, state coordination, climate adaptation planning, and environmental justice application. Initially trained as a chemist at Princeton University, Conor combines scientific research with policy analysis and application to provide holistic approaches to sustainable resource usage in pursuit of a more circular economy. Conor supports the work of the AAFA Environmental Committee and AAFA Product Safety Council by engaging with public and private stakeholders on issues of sustainability, product safety, and chemical management germane to the apparel and footwear industry.
Unable to join on January 20?
Register for the webinar to receive an email containing the direct links to access the recording and the PDF version of the presentation. The email will be sent within 3 business days after the webinar.
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Stephanie Paendong