EPR Compliance Guide

Understanding Your Obligations

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations in Canada require businesses that supply packaged goods to take financial and/or physical responsibility for the end-of-life management of their packaging. As an e-commerce merchant, you may be obligated under multiple provincial programs and the Federal Plastics Registry.

Important: Non-compliance can result in significant penalties, including fines up to $100,000 per day in some jurisdictions, and prohibition from selling products in certain provinces.

Step-by-Step Compliance Process

Determine Your Obligations

Assess which provinces you sell into and whether you meet the minimum thresholds for reporting. Common thresholds include:

Annual revenue over $750,000–$2 million depending on province
Supplying more than 1,000 kg of packaging materials
Being the brand owner or first importer of packaged goods
For federal Plastics Registry: placing ≥ 1,000 kg of plastic on the market annually

Register with Relevant Programs

Once you've determined your obligations, register with the appropriate programs:

Collect and Organize Data

Inventory all SKUs and their packaging components
Calculate weight by material type (paper, plastic, glass, etc.)
Track units sold by province
Document recycled content where applicable
Keep packaging supplier invoices or spec sheets

Prepare and Submit Reports

Compile weight totals by material and province
Fill out provincial or federal templates (CSV/XML)
Submit before annual deadlines (varies by jurisdiction)
Store submission receipts and backup files
Be ready for audits or compliance requests

Pay Fees and Stay Compliant

Pay EPR fees based on weight and material rates
Re-report if SKUs or packaging formats change
Prepare for next year’s filing window
Monitor program rule changes annually

Best Practices for E-commerce Merchants

Maintain Detailed Records

Store packaging specs, invoices, and per-SKU material data. This reduces risk during audits.

Track Provincial Sales

Break out sales by province to calculate fees correctly — especially for BC, MB, and SK.

Standardize SKU Intake

Create a SKU intake template that includes packaging type, supplier, and material weight.

Design for EPR

Use recyclable or light-weighted materials to reduce fees. Some programs reward eco-design.

How PackAudit Will Help

PackAudit will automate the EPR compliance process by:

Syncing your Shopify store’s SKU & sales data
Inferring packaging types + weights per product
Generating province- and federal-compliant CSV/XML files
Sending reminders before deadlines
Storing submission history for audits
Advising on how to reduce fees with packaging changes

Join the waitlist now to access our launch version ahead of 2025 filing deadlines.