2026 Global “Plastic Restriction Orders” New Policy Roundup (US Market: Why Packaging Risk Is Becoming a State-by-State Issue)

Author: Rezan Leo
Date: 03 August 2026

For brands selling into the United States, plastic packaging regulation is not moving in one straight national line. The bigger change is happening through state-level extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, foam restrictions, retailer packaging reviews, and customer sustainability requirements.

This matters for export packaging buyers because a package may be accepted in one sales channel but questioned in another. If a product is sold nationwide, the practical approach is not to design for the average US market. It is to check the strictest target states and the most demanding retail customers first.

California is the clearest signal. Its SB 54 program makes producers responsible for reducing single-use plastic, improving recyclability or compostability, and supporting a statewide packaging recovery system. CalRecycle states that the permanent regulations became effective on 1 May 2026, and that producers must work toward 2032 targets including less single-use plastic, recyclable or compostable packaging, and higher recycling rates (CalRecycle, 2026a; CalRecycle, 2026b).

Colorado shows the same direction from another angle. Under Colorado's producer responsibility program, companies selling products in covered packaging must participate in the statewide recycling program, keep compliance records, and report covered material data. The state also notes that producers must pay annual dues beginning in January 2026 (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, n.d.).

Foam packaging is another area to watch. Oregon's SB 543, effective 1 January 2025, prohibits the sale of polystyrene foam containers and polystyrene foam packaging peanuts, while still clarifying that some protective polystyrene materials used solely for storage or transportation are not covered by that specific prohibition (Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, n.d.). For packaging buyers, the lesson is not that every foam insert is already banned. The lesson is that foam materials are becoming easier for regulators and customers to question.

This creates a practical sourcing issue. EPE foam, EPS foam, plastic trays, and mixed-material cushioning can still be useful for protection, but they may increase the amount of explanation required during customer audits. If the product is sold through large retailers, marketplaces, or branded channels, buyers may ask for clearer packaging data: material type, weight, recyclability claim, testing result, and reduction plan.

Molded pulp packaging can help in this environment, especially for trays, inserts, corner protection, end caps, and product separation. But it should not be treated as a simple foam replacement. A good molded pulp design depends on fiber selection, wall thickness, draft angle, stacking fit, humidity tolerance, compression strength, and drop-test performance.

The best time to review packaging is before the next product launch or packaging refresh. Once a retailer asks for a foam-reduction plan, the project becomes more expensive because tooling, testing, carton fit, and supplier qualification all need time.

For customers, the short checklist is simple:

1. Map the US states and retail channels where the product will be sold.
2. List every foam, plastic tray, and mixed-material cushioning part in the current pack.
3. Record material weight, purpose, and whether the part is easy to separate.
4. Compare molded pulp options before the next tooling cycle.
5. Validate protection through drop, vibration, compression, and stacking tests.

The US packaging market is not only asking whether packaging protects the product. It is increasingly asking whether the packaging can be explained, reported, reduced, and improved. That is where early design work creates real value.

References

California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. (2026a). *SB 54: Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act*. https://calrecycle.ca.gov/packaging/packaging-epr/

California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. (2026b). *California approves new plastic and packaging rules that put consumers first*. https://calrecycle.ca.gov/2026/05/01/press-release-26-05/

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. (n.d.). *Producer Responsibility program*. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/epr-program

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. (n.d.). *Foodware Containers and Polystyrene Foam*. https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/production/Pages/polystyrene.aspx