What are the US’s New Recyclable Packaging Guidelines?

The US packaging industry contributes approximately US$538bn in total economic output to the national economy, according to a survey by John Dunham & Associates.

In December 2025, Congressman Randy Weber introduced the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act in the US government.

It aims to create one nationwide standard for recyclable and reusable packaging, ensuring companies are transparent and accurate in their claims.

This can help reduce confusion around consumer recycling behaviour and promote proper management of materials.

Why was the PACK Act created?

The PACK Act has been supported by AMERIPEN, a US trade association dedicated to improving packaging and the environment, for more than a year.

The Act was created with the aim of building a uniform structure to replace the “confusing patchwork of state regulations”, according to AMERIPEN.

This will help businesses provide accurate information about their products across every state, where previously there were conflicting regulations.

The challenge faced by the packaging industry is that the different state laws lead to interstate commerce issues and customer confusion on how to dispose of packaging.

This is because currently the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which regulates advertising claims, lacks the authority to overrule state laws on these claims.

Instead, the FTC has issued Green Guides to provide suggestions on sustainable marketing claims, which are not enforceable without a law in place.

The proposed PACK Act allows the FTC to remain the primary authority to regulate packaging claims, while creating a national framework to prohibit unfair and deceptive claims.

Lynn Dyer, President of AMERIPEN, says: “AMERIPEN applauds Rep. Randy Weber for introducing the Packaging and Claims Knowledge Act and supports the PACK Act’s creation of a federal framework for recyclable, compostable and reusable claims for consumer packaging under the Federal Trade Commission.

“This new framework will address concerns with the patchwork of state regulations and its negative effect on interstate commerce and consumer awareness regarding management of consumer packaging.”

What is the PACK Act?

The PACK Act has been introduced as commonsense legislation which establishes the first voluntary federal standard for environmental claims on packaging.

It aims to put an end to misleading “green” labels that confuse consumers and undermine recycling efforts.

Often, unverified claims like “recyclable”, “compostable” and “reusable” appear on packaging, without any connection to actual recycling systems, which weakens legitimate environmental initiatives.

The PACK Act aims to address this problem by promoting standards for environmental labelling that are backed by science and support the industry.

Rep. Randy Weber, Congressman representing the 14th District of Texas, says: “Americans want to do the right thing, but misleading labels make that harder.

“The PACK Act cuts through that confusion.

“It’s pro-environment, pro-business and rooted in common sense, all while holding companies accountable and giving consumers clear, honest information they can trust.”

Under the new legislation, companies may only make environmental claims if they are scientifically verified and recognised by existing recycling or composting programmes.

States will be prevented from enacting or enforcing legislation that does not align with the PACK Act, which ensures that there is a national and consistent framework.

This could help eliminate consumer confusion and mistrust around packaging claims, as well as ensuring that packaging is handled correctly by manufacturers, consumers and in recycling streams.

How will it impact companies?

The introduction of the PACK Act could help many companies achieve their sustainability goals, by ensuring their packaging meets its claims.

For example, the Act states that companies must not make unqualified claims about their products being reusable unless they provide the means for reusing the packaging.

This includes creating a system for collecting and reusing packaging or offering a product that consumers can buy to reuse the original packaging.

The PACK Act could also help build trust between companies and their consumers, as consumers will be assured that the companies are making accurate claims about the sustainability of their packaging.

Peter DePasquale, Vice President of Government Affairs at Keurig Dr Pepper, says: “We welcome the introduction of the PACK Act for creating a single, national framework for packaging claims.

“By setting clear, national standards and certifications through credible third parties, this legislation helps ensure consumers receive accurate information while giving companies the consistency they need to innovate and accelerate investment in sustainable packaging solutions worldwide.”

As well as Keurig Dr Pepper, the PACK Act is supported by many other major companies, including Kraft Heinz, General Mills and Nestlé.