- SB 1046 and SB 1053 have pushed conventional plastic film out of covered California grocery stores. Produce bags there are now bought on certification, labeling, and size, not just price.
- Three trends are shaping what comes next: proof-based compostable claims, closer links between claims and local collection, and different produce bag rules from state to state.
- Buyers can get ahead with five moves: build a document file for each SKU, plan for certification lead times, split specs by market, keep claims within certification, and track key policy dates through 2027.
- REGENPLAST offers produce bags in compostable and PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) options, so buyers can match California's rules and the needs of other states.
Since January 1, 2026, SB 1053 has limited covered California stores to recycled paper bags at checkout, sold for at least 10 cents each. According to CalRecycle figures cited by the bill's author, Senator Catherine Blakespear, the grocery and merchandise bags Californians threw away rose from about 157,000 tons in 2014 to about 231,000 tons in 2022, an increase of 47%. With SB 1046 already covering produce and other pre-checkout bags, qualifying compostable bags are now the main film option left in a covered California store. That makes the produce bag a specification-driven category rather than a commodity.
In California, a compostable label now rests on several layers of proof. These include an ASTM compostability standard verified by an approved third-party certifier and a limit of 100 parts per million for total organic fluorine (TOF), a common screening measure for PFAS, under Public Resources Code section 42357. End-of-life access is also entering the picture. Under California's organic waste rules (SB 1383), a jurisdiction may accept compostable plastics in green bins only if they meet the ASTM D6400 standard and the receiving facility confirms each year in writing that it can process them.
The same direction is visible in Washington, D.C. The Truth in Labeling Act of 2026 was introduced in August 2026 as H.R. 10048 in the House, sponsored by Rep. Lou Correa, and S. 5302 in the Senate, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley. It would direct the FTC and EPA to set national definitions for terms such as "compostable." An unqualified compostable claim would require collection by at least 50% of established composting programs, and a qualified claim with an on-package disclosure would require 30%. The bill is at an early stage, but it signals that compostable claims may increasingly be judged on both lab results and collection access.
Many state bag laws focus on checkout bags and leave produce bags alone. New York, for example, exempts bags used only for bulk items such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and candy. California regulates the produce bag itself. So a conventional plastic produce bag that is lawful in a New York store may not meet California's pre-checkout requirements.
For every compostable produce bag sold into California, keep one file with the third-party certificate, the ASTM standard it meets, total organic fluorine (TOF) test results, label artwork, the bag's mouth width, and records showing it meets the other labeling requirements that CalRecycle's NOP-related extension depends on. SB 1046 requires a mouth at least 15 inches wide. A complete file speeds up retailer onboarding and makes it easier to respond if rules change.
Compostable certification is not quick. BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute), which runs a widely used certification program, has advised companies to allow roughly 6 to 12 months, including testing. If you plan a new size, print, or material change, start early. Changes made close to a policy date leave little room for testing.
Use a California spec for covered California stores: a qualifying compostable bag or a recycled paper bag. For states without a produce bag mandate, choose the material that best fits your goals, such as PCR film to reduce virgin plastic use. Keeping two clear specs avoids sending a non-compliant bag into California, or overspecifying for markets that do not need it.
Print only the claims each product's certification supports, and avoid broad terms beyond that. For example, if a bag is certified for industrial composting but not home composting, do not call it "home compostable" on packaging or in marketing. California already restricts how compostable claims can be made, and the federal labeling debate is moving toward stricter, access-based definitions. Simple, accurate labels reduce the risk of a costly reprint if standards tighten. Where a label invites shoppers to compost the bag, pointing them to local guidance keeps the claim accurate.
Four dates and events are worth tracking:
Reviewing this list each quarter gives buyers time to adjust specs and labels before a change takes effect.
For covered California stores, certified compostable produce bags remain a valid SB 1046 option. The suppliers best placed for 2027 are those that can document each SKU's certification, TOF compliance, label eligibility, and mouth width.
In states that do not regulate produce bags, PCR produce bags can reduce virgin plastic use without the compostable labeling questions. They are not an allowed pre-checkout bag in covered California stores.
The produce bag market after SB 1046 rewards preparation. Proof-based claims, closer links to local collection, and state-by-state rules all point to the same response: document every SKU, plan certification early, use the right spec for each market, keep labels accurate, and watch the 2027 calendar.
REGENPLAST offers produce bags in compostable and PCR options to support both California and multi-state programs. We will continue monitoring CalRecycle, USDA, and federal labeling developments.
What should produce bag buyers do now to prepare for 2027?Build a document file for each compostable SKU, plan for certification lead times, use separate specs for California and other states, keep labels within what is certified, and track key policy dates such as CalRecycle's June 30, 2027 extension decision.
How long does compostable certification take?BPI has advised companies to allow roughly 6 to 12 months, including testing. Buyers planning new sizes, prints, or materials should start early.
Do other states regulate produce bags like California does?Most state bag laws do not regulate produce bags in the same way. New York, for example, exempts bags used only for bulk items such as fruits and vegetables. California's SB 1046 is stricter, so buyers selling into several states often need different specs for each market.
[References]
CalRecycle, "Bag Requirements at Grocery and Retail Stores" → Read the Source
CalRecycle, "SB 1383 FAQ: Collection" (compostable plastics in green containers) → Read the Source
California Legislative Information, "Public Resources Code Section 42357" → Read the Source
California Legislative Information, "SB-1053 Solid waste: reusable grocery bags: standards: plastic film prohibition" (official bill text) → Read the Source
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear, "Governor signs legislation to ban plastic bags at grocery store checkouts" (September 2024) → Read the Source
Packaging Dive, "Packaging laws taking effect in 2026" (January 2026) → Read the Source
Packaging World, "Navigating the Compostable Packaging Landscape: Insights from BPI Executive Director Rhodes Yepsen" → Read the Source
Resource Recycling, "Bicameral Truth in Labeling Act introduced in Congress" (August 2026) → Read the Source
GovInfo, "H.R. 10048 (IH) — Truth in Labeling Act of 2026" (introduced August 6, 2026) → Read the Source
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, "Bag Waste Reduction Law" → Read the Source
CalRecycle, "Extension of NOP Requirement for Compostable Products" → Read the Source
National Organic Coalition, "Unified Agenda: 3 Regulatory Items to Watch" (September 2026) → Read the Source