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California recyclability-labelling law SB 343 takes effect with most enforcement suspended

California's SB 343 truth-in-labelling law, which restricts use of recyclability symbols such as the chasing arrows, applies to products and packaging made after 4 October 2026, according to CalRecycle. A preliminary injunction granted in July suspended most enforcement, but companies that do not comply remain exposed to private lawsuits. Amcor says the resulting uncertainty is stalling moves to formats such as paper-based flexible packaging, while How2Recycle is continuing to prepare for compliance.

Why this mattersUnresolved recyclability-claim rules leave US converters exposed to private litigation and are holding back commitments to new recyclable formats such as paper-based flexibles.

• SB 343 restrictions on recyclability claims apply to products and packaging made after 4 October 2026, according to CalRecycle
• A preliminary injunction granted in July 2026 suspended most enforcement, but private lawsuits against non-compliant companies remain possible
• Under SB 343, a material may be called recyclable only if it is collected by programmes covering at least 60 per cent of California's population and sorted at facilities serving at least 60 per cent of state recycling programmes
• Recyclability determinations under SB 343 also feed into the extended producer responsibility programme created by SB 54 of 2022
• Sarah Paleg, sustainability director at Amcor's flexible packaging division, says the law has added a new level of substantiation and is stalling shifts to formats such as paper flexibles
• How2Recycle processed about 35,000 label requests this year as users migrated to How2Recycle Pro, with requests up 29 per cent year on year