About
Packaging EPR is a new, variable cost. It belongs with finance.
The Swedesford Group is an independent packaging EPR compliance, research and advisory firm. We turn packaging regulations into numbers finance can plan around: exposure, reserves, SKU allocation and risk.
Pat Carroll
Pat helps consumer brands and the investors behind them turn packaging regulation into numbers finance can plan around.
He founded the firm to treat EPR as what it is for consumer brands: a new, variable cost that belongs with finance and is managed by supply chain and operations. Before founding the firm, he spent over 20 years in industry and management consulting, including AlixPartners and Accenture, focused on supply chain transformation.
Today he advises packaged food and beverage, household and personal care, private label and restaurant chains, along with the private equity sponsors who back them, across every active U.S. packaging EPR program. He works alongside leading EPR counsel on legal interpretation.
Experience
- Multi-state compliance. Producer determination, supply reporting and fee forecasting across California, Oregon, Colorado and Maine, with Maryland, Minnesota and Washington as they come online.
- Source reduction. Plan development and financial impact analysis for restaurant brands.
- Private equity. EPR exposure assessment across portfolio companies.
- Grocery and packaged goods. Private label EPR and post-consumer recycled (PCR) content reporting, pre-submission audits and independent producer feasibility analysis.
- Food packaging. Sourcing engagements and operational work with packaging converters.
Press and expert networks
Available for comment and expert calls.
Reporters on deadline and expert network teams can reach Pat directly. Research charts may be reused with attribution to The Swedesford Group.
Topics
- California SB 54 fees and the 2027 step-up
- Circular Action Alliance fee schedules and invoicing
- EPR cost pass-through in grocery, restaurants and consumer goods
- EPR exposure in private equity diligence
- Private label and franchise obligations
Featured in Grocery Dive.
The name
Named for Swedesford Road in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where the firm is based.