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When confronted with the need to change materials, most companies have two worries: Will it cost more? And will it run on my existing machinery?

But thanks to California’s new law, SB 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, you better add a few more questions, including:

According to an excellent synopsis (California Enacts EPR Law Aimed at Single-Use Plastic Packaging and Food Service Ware) by Jean-Cyril Walker and Alex Pecht of Washington, DC, law firm Keller & Heckman, “The Act establishes an aggressive extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for single-use plastic packaging and plastic single-use food service ware by requiring all covered material sold in or imported into California to be recyclable or compostable by 2032. The Act also requires a 25% reduction in the use of plastic packaging by 2032 and a 65% recycling rate of the remaining single-use plastic packaging by the same year.”

What are the key specifics?

The Act squarely puts the onus on brand owners to reduce non-recyclable single use packaging materials and increase recycling rates to as high as 65%. Why 65%? I have frequently heard diverters such as Waste Management refer to this number as the upper limit for effective and financially efficient recycling activities.

Per the synopsis, the overriding goals per brand owner include the following:

Per my review and interpretation, note the following:

What you need to do.

Robert (Bob) Lilienfeld has been involved in sustainable packaging for 25 years, working as a marketing executive, consultant, strategic planner, editor, writer, and communications expert. He’s President of Robert Lilienfeld Consulting, working with materials suppliers, converters, trade associations, retailers, and brand owners. He is Executive Director at SPRING, The Sustainable Packaging Research, Information, and Networking Group. You can also write him at [email protected]  or visit his LinkedIn profile.

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