NAM, Coalition Members to House: Pass the PACK Act

The Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act would help keep consumers informed about what types of product packaging are recyclable, compostable and reusable while avoiding a harmful patchwork of state regulations—and Congress should pass it, the NAM and its coalition partners said recently.

What’s going on: The bipartisan measure—which directs the Federal Trade Commission to set up a federal framework on “recyclable,” “compostable” and “reusable” claims on goods packaging—was discussed at a Tuesday House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade hearing on strengthening consumer protections.

• “As we continue to design and invest in more sustainable packaging solutions, it is essential that clear and consistent standards for environmental marketing claims and on-pack consumer guidance are leveraged to help direct consumers to dispose of packaging properly, divert packaging from landfills and enable materials to be recycled, composted or reused where systems and programs exist,” AMERIPEN’s PACK Act Coalition, of which the NAM is a part, said ahead of the hearing.

Why it’s important: Inconsistent state rules about which packaging types and materials are “recyclable,” “compostable” and “reusable” have confused consumers and made interstate commerce more challenging, the coalition told the subcommittee.

• A patchwork of state labeling mandates, standards and definitions for environmental marketing claims also increases production, logistics and compliance costs for manufacturers.
• These conflicting statutes also reduce affordability for buyers and potentially decrease recycling rates, as bewildered consumers trash difficult-to-understand packaging.

Our view: “Manufacturers strongly support the bipartisan Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act,” said NAM Vice President of Domestic Policy Chris Phalen.

• “A uniform national standard for recyclable, compostable and reusable claims on consumer packaging will provide manufacturers with the certainty and clarity they need to compete across state lines, while helping consumers and businesses manage packaging materials.”