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04/01/2026
Can EPR & Single-Serve Beverage Packaging Coexist?
Source: Packaging Digest, March 25, 2026
The single-serve package continues to grow in importance for the beverage industry, fueled by seemingly insatiable consumer demand for product trial, portability, affordability, and portion control.
Sales of single-serve beverages 18 ounces or less grew by 2.7% for the year ending February 7, 2026, according to AlixPartners, with some segments, such as energy drinks particularly strong, up 10.8%. And the package format helped another core beverage segment, soft drinks, continue to grow as well, up 1.8%.
We covered these consumer trends in our first article in this series on single-serve beverage packaging, noting that eco concerns seem to take a back seat with beverage drinkers.
Beverage manufacturers, however, don’t have the luxury of ignoring environmental impacts of their packaging. In this second article in the series, we probe industry’s challenges to comply with current and coming sustainability regulations.
Single-serve format faces scrutiny
The single-serve packaging format, so vital to the health of the beverage industry, could be at risk today because of extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws that are being adopted by states across the US.
EPR makes producers legally and financially responsible for the end-of-life of their products. EPR packaging laws, passed in seven states so far, use eco-modulation fees to incentivize producers to use more sustainable packaging.
A particular target of these laws has been plastic packaging, a popular format for not only the energy and soft drinks mentioned above, but also bottled water, sports drinks, and ready-to-drink teas and juices.
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