Why SB 54 — California’s new plastic packaging law — should be on every retailer’s radar
California’ s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, known as SB 54, is reshaping how businesses manage packaging materials sold into the state.
With permanent regulations now in effect and key compliance deadlines having passed, retailers can no longer afford to treat the law as a future concern. Even businesses that do not manufacture packaging or consider themselves “producers” should not assume SB 54 has no bearing on their operations. In fact, that assumption may be one of the most expensive mistakes a retailer can make.
Much of the discussion surrounding SB 54 has focused on producers, leading many retailers to believe the law applies only to manufacturers, packaging companies and consumer goods brands. In practice, however, determining whether a business has obligations under the law is rarely that simple, and the law’s reach may be broader than many retailers realize.