Environmental and sustainability laws are evolving at a pace that demands immediate attention from the poultry sector, according to Chris Schlag, counsel, Nixon Peabody.
"There's a lot happening right now," Schlag said. "We have some really big challenges right now, from waste management to packaging waste to navigating infectious diseases and making sure that our supply chains are healthy.”
Schlag, whose practice focuses on environmental and sustainability law with extensive experience in the food, beverage and agriculture space, warns that industry disengagement poses serious risks as companies face mounting pressures from federal, state and municipal regulations.
At the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs (US-RSPE) annual meeting, Schlag will provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving legal frameworks impacting sustainability efforts in the agricultural industry across multiple jurisdictions and examine key international, federal and state-level developments related to packaging, product stewardship and environmental compliance.
On November 4-5, the US-RSPE Annual Meeting will unite stakeholders from across the supply chain to advance measurable sustainability outcomes in poultry and egg production. The educational program will be held in collaboration with the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit on November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriot in Atlanta, Georgia.
Registration for both events is now open.
EPR laws creating chaos
For example, Schlag pointed to extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. When Maine first proposed EPR legislation, "everybody was like, 'Oh, well, that's not really a big deal.' They didn't pay attention to it," Schlag recalled. Today, 12 states are implementing EPR, creating "absolute chaos for some companies to navigate,” she added.
These changes can have almost immediate impacts on a company’s bottom line. One client reported EPR adding 50% to packaging costs, forcing product price increases of $2 to $3. Beyond costs, EPR laws are "stifling innovation" and create unintended consequences, she added.
Companies understand these problems but remain silent.
"There's an interest in folks communicating but not being the one that's voicing the concern or voicing the issue," Schlag observed.
"There's also a fear of being seen as the one that doesn't want to support a sustainable practice or support this. And they know that there's an issue with this law, but they don't want to be seen as the one that's against the goal."
Advice for future-proofing operations
Schlag's primary recommendation: understand your true impact. When properly focused, sustainability becomes a business asset rather than a cost center.
"If you are focusing on sustainability in the context of how do I maintain brand and business resilience, you'll be seen as a business benefit, and you won't have that friction internally that sometimes happens because there will be an understanding of what it is that you're doing and how you're helping the business succeed," Schlag explained.
Perhaps most critically, subject matter experts must engage in policy discussions, Schlag emphasized.
"To drive common sense, credible science and holistic thinking back into our legal frameworks, we need those voices, and we need subject matter experts — not me, I'm not a scientist," she said. "I'm not an animal welfare specialist, I'm not a food safety and quality expert. I'm just the lawyer over here that wants to advocate for good science. And to do that, we need folks that are willing to enter the dialogue."
Attend the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit
The Poultry Tech Summit will return as an in-person event on November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. The Poultry Tech Summit brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain. The event focuses on the transition of innovative technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry.
NEW in 2025, Poultry Tech Summit will be held in collaboration with the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs (US-RSPE) annual meeting held November 5, 2025.
Registration for the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit is now open. For more information, go to www.poultrytechsummit.com.
