California has the most active set of packaging rules in the country, and most of them reach well past businesses located in the state. If you ship products to customers in California, even a few orders a month, the materials you put those products in can fall under state law. That includes the mailer, the box, the labels printed on them, and the claims you make about how recyclable or compostable they are.
The rules overlap and have different deadlines, which is why they’re easy to mix up. This guide sorts through the main ones, explains what each means for everyday shipping materials, and shows how to pick mailers that hold up under them.
SB 54: The Packaging EPR Law
SB 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, is the big one. It makes producers responsible for the packaging they put on the market and sets hard targets for 2032:
- A 25 percent reduction in single-use plastic packaging and food service ware
- Recycling of 65 percent of single-use plastic packaging and food service ware
- All single-use packaging and food service ware being recyclable or compostable
This is an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, so companies pay fees based on the packaging they use, and those fees fund collection, recycling, and a statewide plastic pollution mitigation fund. If you want the broader background on how these programs work, our guide to EPR packaging covers it in detail.
Where SB 54 stands now
The law passed in 2022, but the regulations took years to finish. CalRecycle’s permanent regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law and took effect on May 1, 2026. Producers have been working to a timeline that runs through 2027:
- May 31, 2026: annual supply and source reduction reports were due to the Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the producer responsibility organization
- June 1, 2026: producers had to join CAA’s program, register as independent producers, or apply for the small producer exemption
- October 2026: CAA’s program plan is due to be finalized, including final fee rates
- March 2027: first fees are due for the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund
Because final fee rates are still arriving, the practical move right now is to know what packaging you ship and in what weights. Fees will scale with material type and volume, so the choice between a lightweight paper option and a multi-layer plastic one will show up in your costs.
SB 343: Truth in Recycling Labels
SB 343 is about claims. California does not allow a recyclability claim, including the chasing arrows symbol, on packaging unless the material is actually collected and recycled at scale in the state under CalRecycle’s criteria. The symbol restriction for items that don’t qualify takes effect on October 4, 2026.
That date matters for anyone printing recycling symbols on shipping materials. If you have printed mailers or boxes with a recycling logo and the material isn’t on California’s qualifying list, those claims can become a legal problem. Industry groups have challenged the law in federal court, so check where that case stands before you place a large print order, but plan as though the rule applies.
The safest approach is to keep printed claims accurate and specific. A plain, honest design beats a recycling symbol you can’t back up.
Compostable Labeling Rules
California also tightens what can be called “compostable.” Products labeled compostable must meet ASTM standards for compostability, and a separate requirement tied to USDA National Organic Program approval was pushed back to June 30, 2027. The takeaway is that “compostable” is a regulated word in California, not a marketing adjective, and sellers who use it need documentation from their supplier to support it.
Plastic Bag Laws and Shipping Mailers
California’s plastic bag laws, including SB 270 and the later expansion, target checkout bags at stores. They are not aimed at shipping mailers. A mailer sent to a customer is a different product category from a bag handed out at a register, so these laws don’t directly restrict shipping poly mailers. That said, plastic mailers still fall under SB 54 and SB 343, and California’s recycled content requirements for plastic packaging are tightening over time.
Postconsumer Recycled Content Requirements
California has recycled content requirements for certain plastic packaging, with annual reporting due each March 1. Sellers who rely on plastic mailers should ask suppliers about postconsumer recycled (PCR) content, since it affects both compliance and EPR fees. A supplier who can tell you the PCR percentage in a given mailer is one worth keeping.
Choosing Mailers That Fit California’s Direction
None of these laws bans a specific mailer outright. They push the market toward less material, more recyclable material, and honest claims. Here’s how the main mailer types fit:
Paper mailers. Paper Mailers use a material with established recycling in California, which tends to sit in a more favorable position under EPR fee structures. For flat items like apparel basics, prints, and accessories, a paper mailer is often the simplest way to lower your packaging exposure.
Paper padded mailers. When you need cushioning, Paper Padded Mailers protect the product with a paper-based lining instead of plastic bubbles. That keeps the package closer to a single material stream, which is where California policy is heading.
Compostable mailers. Compostable Mailers appeal to brands that want to avoid plastic, but because California regulates the word “compostable,” confirm the certification and labeling your supplier can document before you advertise it to customers.
Bubble mailers. Bubble Mailers are still the right call for fragile items that need real impact protection. Use them where the cushioning does a job, and avoid defaulting to them for products that would ship fine in a paper mailer, since heavier or mixed-material packaging costs more under EPR.
Poly mailers. Custom Poly Mailers remain a practical choice for soft goods that need waterproofing and tear resistance. They’re lightweight, which helps on weight-based fees, and sellers can ask about recycled content to improve their position. If you print on poly mailers, keep recycling claims off the bag unless you can support them under SB 343.
A Practical Compliance Checklist
- Inventory your packaging. List every mailer, box, and filler you use, with material type and weight per unit.
- Confirm whether SB 54 applies to you. Depending on your role in the supply chain and your size, you may have reporting duties or qualify for an exemption. Check with CalRecycle or CAA, or ask a compliance advisor.
- Audit printed claims. Review every recycling symbol, “recyclable,” or “compostable” statement on your packaging against SB 343 and the compostable labeling rules.
- Ask suppliers for documentation. Request material composition, recycled content percentages, and any compostability certifications in writing.
- Right-size and right-material. Lighter packaging and fewer mixed materials generally lower fees and reduce risk.
- Track deadlines. EPR reporting and fee dates continue into 2027, and the details are still being finalized.
Final Thoughts
California’s packaging laws look complicated, but they point in one direction: use less material, use materials that can actually be recycled or composted, and be honest about what you claim. Sellers who match each product to the right mailer, whether that’s a paper mailer for flat goods, a paper padded mailer for light cushioning, a bubble mailer for fragile items, a compostable mailer for brands with documented certification, or a custom poly mailer for soft goods, will be in good shape as these rules settle.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules, deadlines, and fee rates are still changing, so confirm current requirements with CalRecycle or a qualified advisor before making compliance decisions.