Recycling works best when consumers have confidence and companies have clarity. But today, recycled-content marketing claims are governed by inconsistent state and federal requirements.
The Recycled Materials Attribution Act (RMAA) is a bipartisan, targeted solution to replace these conflicting rules with clear, national marketing standards, to help make it easier to supply companies with recycled materials, modernize recycling, and reduce plastic waste.
Across the country, recycling marketing claims are subject to varying and sometimes contradictory state marketing laws. Without a consistent national framework, these conflicting marketing standards create real barriers to progress, including:
Scalability challenges - Inconsistent state marketing requirements prevent recycling systems from scaling efficiently, reducing recycling rates and increasing waste.
Consumer confusion - Varying requirements undermine confidence in recycled-content marketing claims and make it harder for consumers to know what these labels mean.
Regulatory uncertainty - Conflicting marketing standards for recycled-content claims create risk and discourage domestic investment in sustainable packaging, recycled materials, and recycling infrastructure.
A stronger recycling system depends on clarity, consistency, and trust.
The RMAA establishes a uniform national framework for recycled-content marketing claims. It is a commonsense technical fix that reduces complexity across the recycling value chain and ensures consumers receive accurate, consistent information.
The Recycled Materials Attribution Act would:
Establish a uniform, predictable, evidence-based national framework for recycled-content marketing terms
Reduce complexity for consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers
Require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to update and clarify its Green Guides for recycled-content marketing claims
Strengthen consumer protection through clear, enforceable national marketing standards