USA | As America Recycles Day approaches, the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has urged congressional leadership to prioritise and advance three bipartisan measures this year to strengthen the recycling system, improve consumer understanding of packaging recyclability, and accelerate progress toward a more circular economy.
In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, FPA urged swift consideration of the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act of 2025 (H.R. 6832), the Recycled Materials Attribution Act (RMAA) (H.R. 7502), and the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (STEWARD) Act of 2025 (S. 351).
"Together, these three bills address the full continuum of challenges in flexible packaging recycling, from consumer education and recyclability labelling to recycled-content verification and infrastructure investment," said FPA President and CEO Dan Felton.
"Enacting these measures will provide the certainty and tools needed to increase recycling rates, support domestic manufacturing, and advance a more circular economy."
Flexible packaging has played an essential role in protecting food, medical devices, personal care products, and other consumer goods while delivering significant environmental benefits, including reduced material use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved transportation efficiency, and reduced food waste.
However, the industry still faced end-of-life challenges because of limited recycling infrastructure and underdeveloped markets for flexible materials.
To address these challenges, FPA highlighted the importance of the three bipartisan bills:
1. PACK Act Establishes National Labelling Standards
The Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act (H.R. 6832) would create clear, nationwide standards for recyclability, compostability, and reusability claims under U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) oversight.
According to FPA, a growing patchwork of state labelling requirements, including California's SB 343, has confused consumers and complicated recycling efforts. The PACK Act will help consumers properly manage packaging at the end of its life and divert more materials from landfills.
2. RMAA Would Provide Regulatory Certainty for Recycled Content Claims
The Recycled Materials Attribution Act (H.R. 7502) establishes a uniform national standard for validating recycled-content claims and directs the FTC to update its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Green Guides).
The legislation's recognition of advanced recycling technologies and mass-balance accounting methodologies is especially important for flexible packaging used in food, medical, and other high-performance applications requiring high-purity materials.
3. STEWARD Act Would Expand Recycling Access and Improve Data Collection
The STEWARD Act (S. 351) complements the PACK Act and RMAA by authorising a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pilot grant program to expand recycling access, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
The legislation will also strengthen national data collection on recycling and composting systems.
FPA Calls for Prompt Congressional Action
FPA emphasised that the three measures work together to address key barriers preventing greater recycling of flexible packaging, including inconsistent labelling standards, uncertainty surrounding recycled-content claims, and limited collection and processing capacity.
The association urged congressional leaders to schedule floor consideration of the PACK Act, RMAA, and STEWARD Act as soon as possible and reaffirmed its commitment to serving as a resource as lawmakers advance the legislation.
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