As America Recycles Day approaches, the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the leading advocate and voice of the U.S. flexible packaging industry, called on congressional leadership to prioritize and advance this year three bipartisan measures designed to strengthen America’s recycling system, improve consumer understanding of packaging recyclability, and accelerate progress toward a more circular economy.

In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, FPA urged swift consideration of the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act of 2025 (H.R. 6832), the Recycled Materials Attribution Act (RMAA) (H.R. 7502), and the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (STEWARD) Act of 2025 (S. 351).

“Together, these three bills address the full continuum of challenges in flexible packaging recycling, from consumer education and recyclability labeling to recycled-content verification and infrastructure investment,” said FPA President & CEO Dan Felton. “Enacting these measures will provide the certainty and tools needed to increase recycling rates, support domestic manufacturing, and advance a more circular economy.”

Flexible packaging plays an essential role in protecting food, medical devices, personal care products, and other consumer goods while delivering significant environmental benefits, including reduced material use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved transportation efficiency, and reduced food waste. However, the industry continues to face end-of-life challenges due to limited recycling infrastructure and underdeveloped markets for flexible materials.

To address these challenges, FPA highlighted the importance of the three bipartisan bills:

1. PACK Act Establishes National Labeling Standards

The Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act (H.R. 6832) will create clear, nationwide standards for recyclability, compostability, and reusability claims under the oversight of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). According to FPA, a growing patchwork of state labeling requirements, including California’s SB 343, is creating consumer confusion and complicating recycling efforts. The PACK Act will help consumers properly manage packaging at the end of its life and divert more materials from landfills.

2. RMAA Would Provide Regulatory Certainty for Recycled Content Claims

The Recycled Materials Attribution Act (H.R. 7502) establishes a uniform national standard for validating recycled-content claims and direct the FTC to update its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Green Guides). The legislation’s recognition of advanced recycling technologies and mass-balance accounting methodologies is especially important for flexible packaging used in food, medical, and other high-performance applications requiring high-purity materials.

3. STEWARD Act Would Expand Recycling Access and Improve Data Collection

The STEWARD Act (S. 351) complements the PACK Act and RMAA by authorizing an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pilot grant program focused on expanding recycling access, particularly in underserved and rural communities. The legislation will also strengthen national data collection on recycling and composting systems.

FPA Calls for Prompt Congressional Action

FPA emphasized that the three measures work together to address key barriers preventing greater recycling of flexible packaging, including inconsistent labeling standards, uncertainty surrounding recycled-content claims, and limited collection and processing capacity.

The association urged congressional leaders to schedule floor consideration of the PACK Act, RMAA, and STEWARD Act at the earliest opportunity and reaffirmed its commitment to serving as a resource as lawmakers advance the legislation.