§20 articles

Sustainability & Compliance

Articles about Sustainability & Compliance on the Propacks Journal.

Articles

California SB 54 Program Plan: Budget, Fees, and Compliance Guide for Producers

¶Sustainability & Compliance

California SB 54 Program Plan: Budget, Fees, and Compliance Timeline for Packaging Producers

California enacted Senate Bill 54 to overhaul packaging waste management across the state. The Circular Action Alliance submitted its program plan on June 15, 2026. This document establishes the financial and operational rules for the state's producer resp...

Aug 8, 2026Nine-minute read

Guide to Requesting & Testing Packaging Samples

¶Sustainability & Compliance

A Complete Guide to Requesting and Testing Packaging Samples

Getting packaging samples is essential for any brand launching a new product or updating an existing one. This allows you to physically check bottles, jars, tubes, and closures before committing to a large production order. This step is particularly vital ...

Jun 4, 202616-minute read

PET vs PP vs HDPE: Plastic Bottle Material Guide

¶Sustainability & Compliance

PET, PP, and HDPE Bottles: The Essential Packaging Material Guide

Picking the right plastic for your product packaging is a critical decision. It directly affects product safety, brand image, and supply chain efficiency. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are three ...

Jun 3, 202617-minute read

HDPE Plastic Bottles Explained — Properties, rHDPE, Recycling, and Buyer Guide (2026)

¶Sustainability & Compliance

rHDPE Bottles Explained: What They Are, How They Are Made, and Why Brands Are Switching

HDPE bottles do not shatter when dropped. They do not crack when filled with bleach. They block moisture and UV light without any coating. And when they reach the recycling bin, they are among the easiest plastics to reprocess. If you are sourcing bottles ...

May 18, 2026Nine-minute read

¶Sustainability & Compliance

rPET Bottles Explained: What They Are, How They Are Made, and Why Brands Are Switching

rPET bottles look and perform like standard PET bottles. They are made from plastic that already existed. And in a growing number of markets, they are required by law. If you are sourcing packaging for beverages, personal care, or supplements, rPET is no l...

May 18, 2026Eight-minute read

How PCR Plastic Is Made — From Recycling Bin to Bottle to End of Life (2026)

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How PCR Plastic Is Made: The Full Lifecycle From Curbside Bin to Bottle to End of Life

The recycled bottle on your shelf started as trash in someone's recycling bin. Between that bin and your product line, it passed through at least seven stages of sorting, washing, shredding, and reprocessing. Most brands buying PCR packaging have no idea w...

May 18, 202613-minute read

Is Sustainable Packaging More Expensive? The Real Cost Breakdown

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Is Sustainable Packaging More Expensive? The Real Cost Breakdown

The short answer is yes, on paper. According to the Smithers consultancy, post-consumer recycled resin costs roughly 33 percent more than virgin polymer at the commodity level. That premium, Smithers noted in its 2026 report "The Future of PCR Packaging to...

May 1, 2026Seven-minute read

California SB 54 and PCR Packaging in 2026

¶Sustainability & Compliance

California SB 54 Is About to Change How Every Brand Buys Bottles

California Senate Bill 54 is not a future problem anymore. On March 19, 2026, CalRecycle submitted its final proposed regulations to the Office of Administrative Law for approval. OAL has until May 1 to approve or reject them. Once approved, enforcement me...

Apr 30, 2026Eight-minute read

Mono Material Packaging Explained

¶Sustainability & Compliance

What Is Mono Material Packaging and Why It Matters for Your Next Order

Most brands do not think about what their bottle cap is made of. They think about the bottle. They pick a PET bottle because it is clear, recyclable, and looks good on a shelf. Then they pick a polypropylene cap because that is what every supplier offers. ...

Apr 29, 2026Seven-minute read

pcr vs virgin bottles

¶Sustainability & Compliance

PCR Bottles vs Virgin Plastic: What Is the Actual Difference and Which Should You Buy?

The question used to be simple: buy virgin plastic because it is cheaper, clearer, and easier to source. That answer worked for decades. It does not work anymore. State regulations are mandating recycled content in plastic packaging. Retailers are asking ...

Apr 29, 2026Seven-minute read

Recycled Content Certificates: GRS, SCS, ISCC

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How to Verify Recycled Content: A Guide to GRS, SCS, ISCC PLUS, and Other Certificates

Making a sustainability claim is easy. Proving it is hard. When you buy post consumer recycled (PCR) packaging, your brand's credibility rides on one question: can you prove the recycled content is real? A supplier's word is not enough. You need a third pa...

Apr 28, 2026Seven-minute read

Why We Refuse to Charge More for Recycled Plastic | Propacks

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Why We Refuse to Charge More for Recycled Plastic

Everyone in packaging knows the quiet math. PCR resin costs more than virgin. The tooling is pickier. The supply chain has fewer options. Every supplier in the country uses this as their excuse to tack on 15 to 30 percent and call it the "sustainability p...

Apr 28, 2026Six-minute read

Do Essential Oils Need Child Resistant Caps in California?

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Do Essential Oils Need Child Resistant Caps in California? SB 54 vs PPPA Explained

Do essential oils need child resistant caps in California? Not because of SB 54. California SB 54 focuses on packaging responsibility and recycled content. Child resistant closure requirements usually come from the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, or PPPA,...

Apr 8, 2026Five-minute read

Why Brands Are Switching to PCR Packaging in 2026

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Why Brands Are Switching to PCR Packaging in 2026

Major brands are switching to post consumer recycled (PCR) packaging to meet new laws, satisfy consumer demand, and achieve corporate sustainability goals. Strict regulations in states like California and Washington set PCR content mandates that take effec...

Mar 26, 2026Four-minute read

Caps On or Off for Recycling? The Actual Answer

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Should You Recycle Plastic Bottle Caps On or Off

Yes, you should leave plastic caps on your empty bottles when you recycle them. Modern recycling facilities are equipped to handle bottles with their caps on. This practice ensures the small cap is captured and recycled instead of being lost during the sor...

Mar 26, 2026Four-minute read

Prepare for the California SB 54 Deadline

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Prepare for the California SB 54 Deadline

California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, or SB 54, sets ambitious goals for packaging circularity. A critical reporting deadline is approaching in 2026. Recent regulatory movements have created a new urgency for ...

Mar 24, 2026Four-minute read

California SB 54 and Your Plastic Packaging

¶Sustainability & Compliance

California SB 54 and Your Plastic Packaging

California's Senate Bill 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, transforms how brands manage packaging. This law requires producers to make all single-use packaging and plastic food service ware sold in California r...

Mar 20, 2026Four-minute read

Understanding the California Bottle Bill

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How to Transition to rPET Bottles Under California SB 54

If you sell packaged products in California, SB 54 is pushing packaging toward formats that are recyclable in practice and measurable in reporting. SB 54 creates an extended producer responsibility program for packaging and plastic food service ware, and C...

Mar 5, 2026Four-minute read

Where to Recycle Plastic Bottles in California

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Where to Recycle Plastic Bottles Near You (California Guide)

Where to Recycle Plastic Bottles in California If you want plastic bottles to actually be recycled, the most reliable option is to bring them to certified recycling locations. California has several systems that allow residents to find nearby recycling ce...

Mar 5, 2026Two-minute read

How to Check If Your Plastic Bottle Is Actually Recyclable

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How to Verify If Your Plastic Bottle Is Actually Recyclable

A recycling symbol does not automatically mean a plastic bottle will be recycled. The number inside the triangle is a resin identification code created to help manufacturers identify plastic type. It was not designed to guarantee recyclability. Whether a ...

Mar 2, 2026Four-minute read