US lawmakers introduced the Truth in Labeling Act in August 2026, a bill that would set federal definitions for the terms recyclable, compostable, reusable, and refillable on consumer packaging. Supporters include the US Composting Council, the Paper Recycling Coalition, and the Recycled Materials Association. The bill answers years of confusion around the chasing arrows symbol and outdated federal guidance on environmental marketing claims.
Why labels became a policy issue
California passed SB 343 in 2021 to restrict recycling claims on packaging, but a court injunction paused enforcement ahead of the law's October start. Industry groups challenged the law on free speech grounds, and the debate moved to Washington. The Truth in Labeling Act would create a voluntary national label with definitions that can be updated as technology changes, plus an advisory committee and a nationwide analysis of covered materials.
What the bill asks of packaging
The proposed definitions point to existing industry standards, including the Association of Plastic Recyclers Design Guide and the American Forest and Paper Association design guidance. A claim would need responsible end markets reaching at least 60 percent of consumers where the item is sold. Inks or adhesives that block recyclability would count against a package's compliance, which is where printing enters the picture.
What this means for label printing
Printers and converters will get more requests for label structures that survive recycling sorting: face stocks compatible with paper and plastic streams, inks that deink cleanly, adhesives that wash off. Many of these specs are being trialed today on digital presses, because short runs let brand owners test new structures before committing to long production. Color, adhesion, and recyclability now have to sit in one specification, and the trade-offs are real: a label that sorts well may print differently from a label tuned for shelf appeal.
Where the industry goes from here
A competing bill, the Pack Act, takes a different path and would preempt state rules. The final shape of federal labeling law is still open, but the direction is clear: packaging claims will be backed by verifiable standards, and the label is the carrier of that proof.
Which label materials will pass the first federal recyclability test?
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