How to Prepare for an EPR Data Audit

Use this checklist before starting an EPR data audit so your product, packaging, sales, and supplier information is ready.

1. Export your product catalog with SKUs, product names, and active status.

Why it matters: The audit needs to know what is in scope.

Common pitfall: Archived SKUs and bundles should be clearly labeled.

Why it matters: Obligation and weight totals depend on state-level sales.

Common pitfall: Shipping state and billing state can produce different results.

Why it matters: These documents speed up material and weight extraction.

Common pitfall: Product labels alone rarely include every packaging component.

Why it matters: Reports need component-level material and weight data, not product-level guesses.

Common pitfall: Gift sets, bundles, labels, inserts, and ecommerce mailers are often missed.

Why it matters: Fees and reporting formats are organized around material categories.

Common pitfall: Avoid broad labels like plastic, paper, or metal when PET, HDPE, PP, paperboard, or aluminum is known.

Why it matters: Spec sheets, COAs, and technical drawings support audit defense.

Common pitfall: A sales quote is not enough if it lacks material and weight details.

Why it matters: Eco-modulation and recycled content reporting may distinguish post-consumer content.

Common pitfall: Do not assume total recycled content is PCR.

Why it matters: Validation surfaces missing BOMs, stale sales data, and incomplete supplier responses.

Common pitfall: Generating reports before resolving critical gaps creates rework.

Start with a PackBOM EPR Data Audit and get a clear map of your packaging compliance gaps.

Check which states your brand should evaluate.

Learn how to build BOMs for EPR reporting.

Read the connected EPR guide and supporting resources.