By Shervin Dehmoubed
•
Published August 25, 2026
If your business sells products in California, understanding Senate Bill 343 (SB 343) is essential. This Truth in Recycling law fundamentally changes how packaging can be labeled as recyclable, establishing data-driven standards that replace decades of vague environmental marketing claims.
Critical deadline: October 4, 2026. After this date, any packaging manufactured for sale in California bearing recyclability claims or the chasing arrows symbol must meet strict statewide criteria.
In This Guide
- Understanding SB 343: What It Is and When It Takes Effect
- California Recyclability Requirements: The 60/60 Rule
- California Recyclability Beyond the 60/60 Rule
- Strategic Compliance Planning for Your Business
- The Broader Context: SB 343's Role in California's Circular Economy
- Next Steps for California Packaging Compliance
- Professional Packaging Partnership
Key Takeaways
- SB 343, California's Truth in Recycling law, bans the chasing arrows symbol and recyclability claims on packaging sold in California unless it meets strict statewide criteria after October 4, 2026.
- The 60/60 rule requires packaging materials to be collected by programs covering at least 60% of California's population and processed by facilities covering at least 60% of the state's recycling programs.
- Packaging containing PFAS at or above 100 parts per million cannot be labeled recyclable in California, regardless of any other criteria met.
- SB 343 violations carry escalating civil penalties: $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third and each subsequent violation.
- A federal court granted a preliminary injunction on July 14, 2026, pausing California Attorney General enforcement of SB 343, though the October 4, 2026 deadline and other enforcement paths remain relevant.
- CalRecycle is required to update its recyclability findings in 2027 and every five years after that, so compliant materials today can fall out of compliance later.
Understanding SB 343: What It Is and When It Takes Effect
Senate Bill 343, signed into law in 2021, prohibits the use of the chasing arrows symbol or any indication of recyclability on products and packaging unless they meet strict statewide recyclability criteria. The law addresses a longstanding problem: packaging labeled recyclable that had little chance of actually being recycled in California's infrastructure.
This California packaging law represents the state's commitment to honest environmental marketing and consumer protection. By requiring recyclability claims to be substantiated with real-world data rather than theoretical recyclability, SB 343 eliminates greenwashing in the packaging industry.
The Compliance Timeline
CalRecycle published the SB 343 Material Characterization Study Final Findings on April 4, 2025, triggering an 18-month compliance period. The labeling restrictions apply to products and packaging manufactured after October 4, 2026. Packaging manufactured before the deadline can continue to be sold with existing labels, but any packaging produced after that date must comply fully.
Although this timeline may seem distant, redesigning packaging, updating labels, and coordinating with suppliers requires substantial lead time. Companies should begin compliance planning now to meet California packaging requirements for 2026.
Timeline current as of August 2026. The July 2026 injunction pauses Attorney General enforcement but does not cancel the October 2026 deadline.
April 4, 2025
CalRecycle publishes Final Findings, starting the 18-month compliance clock
July 14, 2026
Federal court enjoins the Attorney General from enforcing SB 343
Enforcement paused
October 4, 2026
Labeling restrictions take effect for newly manufactured packaging
SB 343 Injunction: Court Blocks Enforcement (Updated August 2026)
On July 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes (S.D. Cal.) granted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of SB 343, barring the California Attorney General, and anyone in privity or acting in concert with him, from enforcing the law until further order of the court, as reported by Resource Recycling and Norton Rose Fulbright. The injunction effectively pauses the October 4, 2026 compliance deadline while the underlying case, California League of Food Producers, et al. v. Bonta, continues. This is a preliminary ruling, not a final decision, and an appeal to the Ninth Circuit is widely expected. Because enforcement outside the Attorney General's office is not clearly covered by the injunction, we continue to recommend preparing for SB 343 compliance rather than treating the deadline as canceled.
Which SB 343 Provisions Were Found Unconstitutionally Vague
Judge Hayes found four specific SB 343 provisions likely unconstitutionally vague:
- The "routinely becomes feedstock" standard, which sets no clear frequency threshold
- The requirement to comply with the Basel Convention, a treaty the U.S. has not ratified
- The requirement to comply with the APR Design Guide, a private standard that is revised frequently
- The general "designed to ensure recyclability" language
The court treated these provisions as severable from SB 343's core 60/60 collection-and-sorting threshold, which it did not find vague and which is expected to survive even if the other provisions are ultimately struck down, so the 60/60 requirements covered below remain unchanged.
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California Recyclability Requirements: The 60/60 Rule
To be labeled recyclable under California's SB 343, packaging must meet comprehensive criteria that go far beyond simple material composition. Understanding these California packaging requirements is essential for businesses selling in or into the state after October 4, 2026.
The 60/60 Rule Explained
The cornerstone of SB 343 compliance is the dual-threshold requirement. Your packaging must meet two critical standards simultaneously:
- Collection Threshold (60%): The material must be collected by recycling programs serving at least 60% of California's population.
- Processing Threshold (60%): The material must be sorted into defined streams by facilities serving at least 60% of the state's recycling programs.
Critical Requirement
Both thresholds must be met, not one or the other. This 60/60 recycling threshold ensures:
- Collection access exists statewide
- Processing infrastructure can separate materials into clean streams for remanufacturing
This is California's data-driven approach to eliminating greenwashing in recyclable packaging standards.
California Recyclability Beyond the 60/60 Rule
Meeting the 60/60 threshold is just the starting point. California's Truth in Recycling law requires packaging to meet additional strict criteria before any recyclability claims can be made.
Design and Composition Standards
What It Means: Packaging cannot include components, inks, additives, or labels that prevent recyclability.
For Plastic Packaging: Must meet standards outlined in the Association of Plastic Recyclers Design Guide.
Why It Matters: Materials must routinely become feedstock in the production of new products or packaging, and theoretical recyclability is insufficient for California packaging laws.
PFAS Packaging Restrictions in California
The Requirement: Products and packaging containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) intentionally added or present at or above 100 parts per million cannot be labeled as recyclable.
Key Point: Even if your packaging meets all other SB 343 requirements, PFAS content above this threshold disqualifies it from recyclability claims.
Industry Impact: This makes SB 343 one of the strictest PFAS packaging restrictions in California, affecting food packaging, water-resistant materials, and coated products.
Documentation Requirements for Recyclability Claims
Businesses must maintain comprehensive records supporting any recyclability claims made on packaging sold in California.
Required Documentation:
- Evidence the material meets the 60/60 collection and processing thresholds
- Confirmation the material becomes feedstock for new products
- Design specifications showing no components prevent recyclability
- PFAS testing results (if applicable to your materials)
Important Note: CalRecycle provides reference data through its Material Characterization Study, but brands are responsible for ensuring their packaging claims are consistent with that data.
CalRecycle periodically updates the underlying material tables (most recently in June 2026) as facility participation changes; a material that qualifies today can fall out of compliance if collection or processing access drops below 60%. Check CalRecycle's current published tables before finalizing labels, not just the original 2025 report.
Enforcement and Consequences
Who Can Take Action:
- Local California jurisdictions
- California Attorney General
- Competitors (through Business and Professions Code)
- Consumer advocacy groups
The July 2026 injunction only blocks the California Attorney General, and parties in privity or acting in concert with him, from enforcing SB 343. It does not clearly extend to local jurisdictions, competitors, or consumer advocacy groups, so recyclability claims are not risk-free just because the Attorney General is currently blocked from enforcing the law.
Potential Penalties: Civil penalties of $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third and each subsequent violation (Public Resources Code §42358), in addition to civil suits under the Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act for deceptive recyclability claims.
Compliance Responsibility: The enforcement model places full responsibility directly on businesses. There is no grace period for inaccurate claims after the packaging compliance deadline.
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Strategic Compliance Planning for Your Business
1
Conduct a Comprehensive Packaging Audit
Begin with a complete inventory of every SKU sold into California. For each product, determine whether the packaging displays recyclability language or symbols, if it meets all SB 343 criteria based on CalRecycle's findings, and what documentation exists to substantiate current claims. Prioritize high-volume products and those with the highest compliance risk.
2
Material Selection Strategy
Most uncoated paper-based materials are highly accessible for recycling in California and are strong candidates for compliant recyclability claims. Plastic films, multi-material laminates, and complex composites are not yet meeting the statutory thresholds. Consider:
- Mono-material packaging: Single-material solutions like all-paper mailers or corrugated boxes have the highest likelihood of meeting SB 343 standards
- Simplified structures: Reducing layers, coatings, and components improves recyclability
- Infrastructure-aligned choices: Select materials widely accepted in California's existing recycling programs
3
Redesign with Compliance in Mind
Sustainable packaging California businesses need should focus on genuine environmental improvement, not just label changes. Evaluate adhesive types, coating compatibility with recycling processes, label materials, ink formulations, and component integration. The goal is creating packaging that functions within California's actual recycling infrastructure.
4
Communication and Claims Strategy
If packaging doesn't meet SB 343's criteria, it cannot display the chasing arrows symbol or any recyclability claims after October 4, 2026. However, compliant alternatives include recycled content percentages, plastic-free design attributes, certified compostability (if applicable), and other substantiated environmental benefits. The Truth in Recycling law governs end-of-life recyclability claims, not claims about recycled inputs or other environmental attributes.
5
Transition Planning
For packaging currently in the market that won't meet SB 343 standards, develop a transition plan that identifies which SKUs need label changes or redesign, establishes production cutoff dates to exhaust non-compliant inventory before the packaging compliance deadline, and coordinates with suppliers on new specifications.
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The Broader Context: SB 343's Role in California's Circular Economy
SB 343 represents California's comprehensive strategy toward a circular economy where materials are actually recycled, not merely labeled as recyclable. By aligning packaging with these standards, businesses reduce material waste, support recycling infrastructure, build consumer trust through accurate claims, and gain competitive advantage through leadership in genuine sustainability.
The law requires CalRecycle to update its findings in 2027 and every five years thereafter, meaning recyclable packaging standards will evolve as California's infrastructure develops. For a broader look at California's packaging requirements beyond SB 343, see our Guide to California Packaging Laws.
Relationship to SB 54 and Extended Producer Responsibility
SB 343 works alongside SB 54, California's Extended Producer Responsibility law, which requires all single-use packaging to be recyclable or compostable by 2032. Packaging that fails SB 343's recyclability definition may face higher EPR fees under SB 54, creating additional financial incentive for compliance. For a full breakdown of SB 54's requirements and deadlines, see our Guide to California SB 54.
It is also an open question whether a court finding SB 343's recyclability language unconstitutionally vague has any bearing on SB 54's standards, since SB 54 leans on SB 343's recyclability definition. We are watching for further guidance and will update this page if that develops.
Next Steps for California Packaging Compliance
With October 2026 approaching, immediate action items include:
- Audit current packaging for any recyclability claims or chasing arrows symbols
- Review CalRecycle's Material Characterization Study to determine if your materials meet the 60/60 recycling threshold
- Identify required changes and prioritize highest-volume SKUs
- Develop documentation to substantiate any recyclability claims you plan to maintain
- Engage suppliers and partners early in the redesign process
Not sure which step applies to you?
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Professional Packaging Partnership
Successfully navigating SB 343 compliance requires expertise in both California's regulatory landscape and sustainable packaging design. Businesses need partners who understand compliance requirements while supporting genuine environmental improvement.
At EcoPackables, we specialize in sustainable packaging solutions designed with California's requirements in mind. From material selection and design optimization to documentation support and compliant messaging, we have your back every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is California SB 343?
California SB 343, also known as the Truth in Recycling law, is a state law signed in 2021 that prohibits packaging from displaying the chasing arrows symbol or any recyclability claim unless the packaging meets strict, data-driven statewide recyclability criteria, including the 60/60 collection and processing threshold.
When does SB 343 take effect?
SB 343's labeling restrictions apply to products and packaging manufactured after October 4, 2026. Packaging manufactured and labeled before that date can continue to be sold, but any packaging produced after October 4, 2026 must fully comply with the law's recyclability criteria.
What is the 60/60 rule under SB 343?
The 60/60 rule requires that, to be labeled recyclable in California, a packaging material must be collected by recycling programs serving at least 60 percent of California's population and sorted into defined material streams by processing facilities serving at least 60 percent of the state's recycling programs. Both thresholds must be met at the same time.
Is SB 343 currently being enforced?
Enforcement by the California Attorney General is currently paused. On July 14, 2026, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction in California League of Food Producers, et al. v. Bonta, barring the Attorney General from enforcing SB 343 while the case continues. The ruling is preliminary, an appeal is expected, and enforcement by local jurisdictions, competitors, and consumer advocacy groups is not clearly covered by the injunction, so businesses should continue preparing for the October 4, 2026 deadline.
What are the penalties for violating SB 343?
SB 343 violations carry civil penalties of $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second violation, and $2,000 for a third and each subsequent violation under Public Resources Code section 42358, in addition to possible civil suits under California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act.
How does SB 343 relate to SB 54?
SB 343 sets the recyclability standard that packaging must meet to carry a recyclable claim, while SB 54, California's Extended Producer Responsibility law, requires all single-use packaging to be recyclable or compostable by 2032 and charges producers fees based partly on that standard. Packaging that fails SB 343's recyclability definition may face higher EPR fees under SB 54. See our Guide to California SB 54 for a full breakdown.
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