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Understanding Recent EPA Climate Policy Changes: What Manufacturers and Packaging Operations Should Know
AJ Adhesives’ News – Understanding Recent EPA Climate Policy Changes: What Manufacturers and Packaging Operations Should Know
February 16, 2026
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a major regulatory change that alters how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are regulated at the federal level. While the topic has generated political debate, the more important question for manufacturers, packaging operations, and industrial suppliers to understand EPA climate policy changes is simple:
What has changed, what hasn’t, and how could this affect business decisions moving forward?
This is an operations-focused overview to help customers understand the potential implications.
What Changed at the Federal Level
Recently, the EPA rescinded the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a determination that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide pose a risk to public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act (Associated Press, 2026).
That finding had served as the legal foundation for most federal greenhouse gas regulations for more than a decade, including emissions standards affecting:
- Passenger vehicles and commercial trucks
- Power plants
- Other stationary industrial sources
With the repeal, the EPA eliminated federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles and engines and signaled that other climate-related regulations tied to the finding may also be rolled back. The EPA stated that this action represents a significant deregulatory shift, removing the federal obligation to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act framework (EPA, 2026).
What Did Not Change: Other Air Quality Regulations Still Apply
It is important to distinguish between greenhouse gas regulation and other environmental requirements.
The repeal applies specifically to greenhouse gases. It does not remove EPA authority over other regulated air pollutants, such as:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)
- Ozone and particulate matter
The EPA continues to regulate these pollutants under separate Clean Air Act provisions (ABC News, 2026).
For manufacturers using adhesives, coatings, inks, or solvents, this means:
- VOC compliance requirements remain in effect
- Surface coating and solvent-use standards are unchanged
- Permitting, monitoring, and operational controls tied to non-GHG pollutants still apply
In short, this change does not eliminate day-to-day air quality compliance obligations for industrial operations.
Why EPA Climate Policy Changes Still Matters for Manufacturers and Packaging Operations
Even with reduced federal GHG regulation, the change introduces several indirect effects that manufacturers and packaging operations should understand.
- Increased Regulatory Uncertainty
The Endangerment Finding had provided a consistent federal framework for climate-related regulation across multiple administrations. Its removal introduces uncertainty around:
- Legal challenges and court rulings
- Potential future policy reversals
- Greater reliance on state-level climate programs
Reuters reports that the repeal is expected to trigger lawsuits and could result in a patchwork of state-driven requirements, increasing complexity for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions (Reuters, 2026).
For manufacturers, this uncertainty can complicate:
- Long-term capital planning
- Energy and utility investments
- Fleet and transportation decisions
In this environment, many operations place greater value on reliability, predictability, and efficiency, rather than chasing short-term regulatory advantages.
- Customer and Market Expectations May Carry More Weight
While federal requirements have shifted, many customers and markets have not.
The World Resources Institute notes that climate-related governance pressure often shifts toward states, customers, and investors when federal oversight is reduced (World Resources Institute, 2026).
Many manufacturers—particularly those serving food/beverage, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, or multinational customers—are still being asked to provide:
- Energy and emissions data
- Supplier disclosures and questionnaires
- Documentation supporting sustainability and efficiency claims
This is largely driven by Scope 3 reporting frameworks, which focus on emissions across the supply chain rather than only direct operations (GHG Protocol).
The GHG Protocol notes that Scope 3 emissions often represent the majority of a company’s total footprint, which is why suppliers are increasingly included in data requests (GHG Protocol, Scope 3 FAQ).
- Transportation and Energy Cost Implications
Because vehicle emissions standards were directly tied to the Endangerment Finding, changes to those rules may influence:
- Fleet turnover timelines
- Transportation costs and availability
- Long-term logistics planning
Coverage of the repeal has emphasized its immediate impact on vehicle standards, with potential downstream effects on freight economics and operating costs (Associated Press, 2026).
For packaging and manufacturing operations, this can translate into renewed focus on:
- Reducing downtime
- Improving line efficiency
- Minimizing scrap and rework to offset external cost pressures
- Sustainability Claims Require Greater Discipline
A less prescriptive federal climate framework does not eliminate scrutiny. In many cases, it increases the importance of measurable, defensible claims.
As federal signals weaken, customer procurement teams increasingly rely on contracts, documentation, and third-party frameworks rather than regulatory alignment alone (World Economic Forum, 2025).
For manufacturers and suppliers, this means:
- Avoiding broad or unsupported sustainability claims
- Tying performance statements to measurable outcomes such as energy use, waste reduction, uptime, and process efficiency
- Maintaining clear documentation to support those claims
What EPA Climate Policy Changes Mean for Customers Going Forward
From a business perspective, the key takeaways are practical rather than political:
- Federal climate policy may be less predictable in the near term
- State, customer, and market-driven requirements are likely to persist
- Operational efficiency and reliability remain valuable regardless of regulation
- Documentation and transparency matter more than ever
Companies that focus on stable processes, efficient equipment, reduced waste, and clear technical support will be better positioned to adapt as regulatory and market expectations continue to evolve.
Sources
Associated Press. Trump’s EPA revokes scientific finding that underpinned U.S. fight against climate change (2026). – LINK
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Announces Repeal of the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding (2026). – LINK
World Resources Institute. Endangerment Finding Repeal, Explained (2026). – LINK
Reuters. Trump EPA ends emissions limits; state rules and lawsuits could follow (2026). – LINK
ABC News. EPA climate policy changes rescind landmark 2009 endangerment finding on greenhouse gases (2026). – LINK
PBS NewsHour. EPA breifing coverage (2026). – LINK
GHG Protocol. Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard. – LINK
GHG Protocol. Scope 3 FAQ. – LINK
World Economic Forum. Green Procurement Playbook (2025). – LINK
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