Presented by the 2026-2027 Anticounterfeiting Committee and Brands and Sustainability Committee

This panel will discuss the "dirty business" of counterfeit destruction. In many jurisdictions, seized counterfeit products are destroyed without regard to the impact on the environment or workers' health. Many brands are aware of these realities and would welcome alternative processes to ensure utilization of raw materials and destruction processes in line with environmental and health and safety standards. However, local laws and practices are complicated and less than transparent, and brand owners often have no authority to decide what happens to the seized goods. This session will provide an insight into the situation in specific jurisdictions of interest, best practices, alternatives as adopted by some brands, and an outlook for future advocacy to change some of the detrimental practices.