The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has welcomed a federal court decision granting a preliminary injunction blocking California from enforcing SB 343, a state law governing recyclability claims on packaging.
AF&PA Vice President of Government Affairs Julie Landry called the ruling "a significant win" for manufacturers seeking to provide consumers with accurate information about the products they buy. She said paper-based packaging is among the most recyclable packaging materials in the United States and that manufacturers should be able to communicate that fact truthfully.
Landry argued that SB 343 would have required manufacturers to remove accurate recycling information from packaging that is, in fact, recyclable—not because the claims were false, but because the law's standards were too vague to comply with.
"The Court recognized what we've said from the beginning: California cannot fix consumer confusion by restricting truthful speech," Landry said.
The preliminary injunction temporarily prevents California from enforcing the challenged provisions of SB 343 while the legal case proceeds.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) represents U.S. manufacturers of paper, packaging, pulp and wood products and advocates for public policies that support the competitiveness and sustainability of the forest products industry.
