EPR Unpacked: What beauty brands need to know about packaging regulations (13 Oct 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

EPR Unpacked:

What Beauty Brands Need to Know About Packaging Regulations

Packaging rules are no longer a someday issue. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs are already in effect or coming online across multiple states, and beauty brands are being asked to track materials, report data, pay fees, and rethink how products are packaged.

Join Beauty Industry West for a practical webinar that cuts through the patchwork. Moderator Ronie M. Schmelz, Partner at K&L Gates and a longtime BIW legal and regulatory leader, will be joined by fellow K&L Gates attorneys Avril Love and Maureen O’Dea Brill for a straight-talk session on what EPR means for beauty brands now, and what to do next.

Topics for discussion

How packaging EPR works and why beauty is uniquely exposed
The current state-by-state landscape and what’s changing
What brands need to track, report, and budget for
Practical steps to reduce risk, cost, and last-minute scrambling

Whether you lead a brand, manage packaging or compliance, or supply the industry, this session is designed to give you usable takeaways—not theory.

Members and non-members are welcome. Space is limited. Register now!

Presenters

Ronie M. Schmelz

Partner, K&L Gates | Moderator

Ronie is a partner in K&L Gates’ Commercial Disputes practice. A seasoned litigator, she now spends much of her time counseling consumer and personal care brands on how to stay out of court—helping companies reduce regulatory, advertising, and litigation risk before problems start. She is a longtime Beauty Industry West leader and frequently advises beauty and personal care companies on compliance and litigation-avoidance strategy.

Avril Love

Partner, K&L Gates

Avril is a partner in K&L Gates’ Commercial Disputes practice. She defends consumer product and personal care companies in court and before regulators on advertising, greenwashing, product claims, packaging, and e-commerce issues. She also advises brands on emerging compliance risks, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Maureen O’Dea Brill

Partner, K&L Gates

Maureen is a partner in K&L Gates’ Environment, Land, and Natural Resources practice. She advises manufacturers and personal care companies on federal and state environmental compliance, enforcement defense, and public policy. Her work includes helping clients navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of state EPR packaging laws.

Thanks to Our Sponsor

EPR Unpacked:

What Beauty Brands Need to Know About Packaging Regulations

Webinar

Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM

Location: Online

Tickets

Members: $30

Non-Members: $45

Beauty Industry West Winter Gala 2026 (10 Nov 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Beauty Industry West Winter Gala 2026

Honoring Industry Legend Rebecca Gadberry

Join Beauty Industry West for our annual Winter Gala on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. This year’s celebration honors Rebecca Gadberry, LE, FSCC, for her extraordinary commitment and decades of contributions to the skincare industry. As a pioneering educator, formulator, journalist, and the first Marketing Fellow of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Rebecca has shaped generations of professionals through her work at UCLA Extension, YG Laboratories, and across the beauty community.

We are also pleased to welcome special guest speaker Dr. Robert J. Bianchini, Vice President of Technology and Development at Dermalogica. With a distinguished career spanning product innovation, research, and commercialization in skincare, Dr. Bianchini will share insights drawn from his extensive experience in the industry. Dr. Bianchini will speak on the subject of:

The Multi-billion Dollar Glow Up:

Global Market Drivers in Aesthetic Medicine and Wellness

Enjoy an evening of networking, recognition, and celebration of the beauty community.

Save the date and join us as we honor excellence in our industry.

Date: November 10, 2026

Time: 6:00–11:00 PM

More details and registration information coming soon.

Join the waitlist for more information.

Rebecca Gadberry

Industry Legend

With seven awards as a beauty industry legend, Rebecca Gadberry, LE, FSCC, is a true skincare pioneer and preeminent ingredient authority. At the forefront of many of the industry’s most popular trends (aloe vera, AHAs, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, pollution and blue light protection, barrier repair, the microbiome, multi-antioxidants, peptides, epigenetics, etc.) as well as one of the first cosmetic science communicators and ‘myth-busters’, Rebecca has received numerous awards for her work as an educator, journalist, skin researcher, and product developer. She has developed over 1500 cosmetic products for national and international distribution in the spa, medical, on-air, online, direct, and natural product channels, has published over 600 articles in trade, consumer, and scientific journals, has been the ‘go-to’ person for 'all things cosmetics' on numerous television and radio programs, and is a popular speaker at conferences and seminars in all segments of the beauty industry. Rebecca is the first Marketing Fellow of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (FSCC) and the 13th licensed esthetician (LE) in California. She has been the Senior Instructor and Program Director for UCLA Extension’s highly acclaimed cosmetic science program since 1986 and is the co-host of the popular podcast, Facially Conscious: Get the Skinny on All Things Skin. In 2023, she assumed the role of Director of Product Development and Education at YG Laboratories, the prestigious skincare manufacturer she led as CEO before stepping down in 2025. Working alongside her son, now company president, and leading an innovative team of cosmetic scientists, she remains at the forefront of high-performance skincare, using new sustainable raw materials and biologically focused ingredients to deliver results that were unimaginable just a few years ago.

Robert J. Bianchini, Ph.D., AAD

Vice-President, Technology & Product Development

Dermalogica, LLC, A Unilever Prestige Co.

The medical aesthetics sector has matured into a hyper-growth global market, with North America alone serving as the world's largest region, where revenue is projected to exceed $20 billion USD with a 10–12% CAGR by 2030. Driven by an aging population, rising consumer spend, and a massive shift toward skin longevity and wellness. The industry is witnessing a structural transformation where traditional cosmetic treatments are merging with professional services to create significantly more value and improved patient outcomes. This presentation outlines the core commercial forces accelerating this evolution: the rise of non-surgical advanced treatments, a surging demand for tools and devices, and the emergence of highly engaged hybrid med-spa salon business models. The talk will examine how artificial intelligence, biotechnology, novel ingredients, and clinically validated regimens optimize consumer demand and retention. He will also review how Dermalogica has streamlined its global product development lifecycle by partnering with external technology companies. Dr. Bianchini delivers a data-backed blueprint for brand and business leaders looking to capture value across this rapidly consolidating, multi-billion-dollar wellness value chain.

Beauty Industry West upcoming events

EPR Unpacked: What beauty brands need to know about packaging regulations (13 Oct 2026)

Beauty Industry West Winter Gala 2026 (10 Nov 2026)