Chasing Clarity: SB 343 Uncertainty Influencing Labeling, Packaging Choices

As of the first week in October, manufacturers producing and printing any new packaging that will be sold in California are expected to do so in alignment with long-anticipated “truth in labeling” law SB 343. Labeling restrictions established by SB 343 apply to products and packaging manufactured after Oct. 4, 2026, per CalRecycle. But the situation is muddied by an ongoing court case that currently largely blocks enforcement actions via a July preliminary injunction, and there could still be risk for private litigation for businesses that don’t comply. The law, adopted in 2021, sought to crack down on widespread use of recyclability symbols, particularly the chasing arrows. It aims to ensure that any material called recyclable is actually collected in programs serving 60% of California’s population and sorted by facilities serving at least 60% of statewide recycling programs, among other parameters. Material-specific recyclability determinations also have implications in the extended producer responsibility program established by 2022’s SB 54.

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