Product Policy Institute Expands Board to Support Growing Producer Responsibility Movement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7/19/2012

Leslie Tamminen and Dawn Erlandson bring new energy to the movement

TODAY, the Product Policy Institute (PPI) announced it has brought on two new board members to help grow the rising movement for a cradle-to-cradle economy currently sweeping the United States.  Since 2003, PPI has advocated for extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies, which shift physical and financial responsibility for recycling products and packaging away from government, and upstream to manufacturers that design and profit from their sale.  Mature EPR systems have been proven to dramatically reduce waste and the need for virgin natural resources, cut toxic pollution and energy use, save taxpayers money and create jobs.

“With the surge in producer responsibility recycling legislation, PPI needs a large and diverse board that reflects the diversity and breadth of the movement,” said PPI Executive Director Bill Sheehan. “We have recruited two remarkable individuals with significant accomplishments and passion for building a sustainable future. We’re excited about having them on board as the organization begins the next chapter in our development.”

In 2004, when PPI started organizing local governments through Product Stewardship Councils to work for state EPR policies, there were only a handful of producer responsibility recycling laws. Today, there are more than 80 producer responsibility laws in 33 states covering ten categories of products, like electronics, bottles and cans, paint and batteries.  EPR policies are now being proposed for mattresses and carpet, and PPI is working on developing and promoting EPR for consumer packaging, which currently represents 30% of the waste stream in the United States.

Leslie Mintz Tamminen (Los Angeles, CA) is a consultant for Seventh Generation Advisors, a nonprofit environmental organization in Santa Monica CA.  She is the Director of the Ocean Program, and in this capacity she facilitates the Clean Seas Coalition, a growing group of statewide environmentalists, scientists, students, and community leaders pushing California to strengthen laws reducing trash in California’s seas and on beaches. Leslie is also a California Ocean Science Trustee.   Formerly, Leslie was a special advisor to Lt. Governor John Garamendi and the Legislative Director and staff attorney for the environmental nonprofit organization Heal the Bay.

Dawn Erlandson (Minneapolis, MN) is the founder and president of Aurora Strategic Advisors, a public affairs and communications consultancy.  Dawn has 20 years of sustainability, environmental, public affairs, communications, and executive experience in Washington, D.C. and Minnesota.  Dawn leads comprehensive public affairs and marketing communications efforts for many national, state and local clients.  A social entrepreneur, Dawn launched two non-profit organizations focused on sustainable development – one in the Great Plains region and one nationally. Dawn served as Market Mechanisms Coordinator for the President's Council on Sustainable Development under Bill Clinton and as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Donald W. Riegle (D-MI).

About Product Policy Institute

Since 2003, Product Policy Institute has worked to make extended producer responsibility (EPR) the central approach to designing and managing products and packaging, so that market forces drive green design and the use and reuse of safer chemicals and more sustainable materials.  We develop policies and educational materials, and network key stakeholders to assist public interest advocates, government officials, leading companies and citizens to advocate for producer responsibility initiatives.   www.productpolicy.org