California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2253 on Sunday, striking down a proposal intended to tighten how companies verify recycled content claims. The governor argued that the bill’s documentation standards would impose an unfair burden on manufacturers, citing federal trade policies as a source of existing economic strain. He concluded that the new requirements offered little practical benefit to consumers.
The Push to Curb Greenwashing
Authored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, the legislation aimed to curb greenwashing by forcing a wider array of products to adhere to the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides. While these standards currently govern plastic food containers, the bill would have expanded that scope and mandated specific methodologies for calculating recycled content.
In his veto message, Newsom acknowledged the importance of honest environmental marketing. Yet, he balked at the timing. “I am concerned that expanding these documentation requirements will unduly burden manufacturers and suppliers already facing economic headwinds caused by federal tariff and trade policy actions,” the governor stated. He warned that layering on complex compliance measures now could worsen those economic pressures.
Industry Clash Over Accountability
Advocates, including Californians Against Waste, championed the measure as a tool to stop misleading environmental claims.
Opponents, such as Ameripen and the American Beverage Association, took a stand against the bill’s potential impact on mass-balance accounting systems. These groups argued that the proposed methodology would create obstacles for businesses trying to track recycled content in their supply chains.
A Pattern of Legislative Vetoes
Newsom also vetoed Senate Bill 1180, which aimed to set spending requirements and identify eligible recipients for the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund. He expressed concern that SB 1180 could complicate the implementation of SB 54, the state’s extended producer responsibility for packaging and source reduction law.
New Mandates for Beverage Containers
Despite these vetoes, Newsom signed SB 633 into law earlier this month. The new statute requires beverage manufacturers to report imported post-consumer recycled content to CalRecycle. Starting March 1, 2028, companies must provide third-party certification for these claims. The law also raises the penalty for using virgin plastic instead of the required recycled material from 20 cents to 30 cents per pound.
The governor faces a September 30 deadline to act on all remaining bills from the 2026 legislative session.
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