Industry Opposition to California's Single-Use Plastic Law: The Print Creative Alliance's Campaign Against Senate Bills 54 and 343
California's law on single-use plastic, passed in 2022 to combat plastic pollution, is facing opposition from an industry consortium called the Print Creative Alliance. This group, along with its allies, is working to undermine the law and its companion legislation, the Truth in Recycling law. The Print Creative Alliance represents printers, packaging businesses, and marketing professionals across 13 western states who view the laws as financially burdensome for the producers and packagers they work with.
The Print Creative Alliance, led by Lou Caron, is also affiliated with Californians for Affordable Packaging, which has been actively lobbying and campaigning to halt and repeal the single-use plastic law, Senate Bill 54, and challenging the Truth in Recycling law, Senate Bill 343. The goal is to leverage concerns about affordability and California's cost of living to push back against these regulations.
While some industry groups support the single-use plastic law, others, like the Print Creative Alliance, argue that the laws are unworkable and costly. They believe that the financial burden will ultimately be passed on to consumers, impacting affordability. However, supporters of the laws, including Senator Ben Allen, emphasize that holding producers accountable for waste disposal will save money for residents in the long run.
Despite the industry pushback, not all organizations are in opposition to the laws. The California Chamber of Commerce and the American Chemistry Council have not joined the efforts to repeal the legislation. However, the Teamsters have requested a reevaluation of the single-use plastic law, citing concerns about its impact.
The single-use plastic law, which went into effect in May, aims to reduce plastic packaging and foodware by 25% by 2032 and requires all packaging materials to be compostable or recyclable. The Truth in Recycling law mandates that materials labeled as recyclable must meet state-defined recycling standards. While industry groups argue that the laws are costly, state economists have projected that the regulations will save money for Californians in the long term by preventing pollution and waste costs.
The Print Creative Alliance's strategy includes targeting legislators and influencing Governor Gavin Newsom to reconsider the laws. Despite concerns about affordability, lawmakers like Senator Catherine Blakespear remain committed to protecting the environment and ensuring the laws are implemented effectively. The debate over the single-use plastic law highlights the ongoing tension between environmental protection and economic considerations in California.