California adds third-party verification for beverage-bottle recycled content
12 October 2026 | Industry News
California SB 633 adds third-party validation of recycled content in covered plastic beverage containers, with reporting proof required by March 1, 2028.
12 October 2026 | Industry News
California’s SB 633 strengthens verification and reporting for recycled content in plastic beverage containers covered by the California Redemption Value system. The measure was approved on 18 September 2026; Food Packaging Forum reported on the change on 12 October.
By March 1, 2028, covered beverage manufacturers must provide proof that the postconsumer recycled content they use has been validated through an approved third-party programme. The law retains the existing average content targets of 25% for 2025–2029 and 50% from 2030. It also increases the shortfall penalty to $0.30 per pound.
The measure concerns covered beverage containers rather than every type of food packaging. Buyers and suppliers serving this market should review their applicable reporting scope, supplier evidence and validation arrangements against the enacted text.
Source: California Legislative Information, SB 633, chaptered 18 September 2026; Food Packaging Forum, 12 October 2026.
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