California SB 54 Is Here: What Companies Using Plastic Packaging Need To Do Now

Key Takeaways

• California’s Senate Bill 54 (“SB 54”) requires producers of single-use packaging and plastic food service ware (collectively, “Covered Materials”) to reduce the use of such materials and ensure full recyclability and compostability by 2032. The final regulations went into effect on May 1, 2026, and impose near-term milestone deadlines for compliance.
• The term “producer” is defined broadly and can reach companies even if they did not manufacture the Covered Materials, creating potential compliance exposure and regulatory risk for a wide range of businesses.
• Companies should promptly review their business and supply chains to assess whether they could be considered “producers,” and thus, must comply with SB 54.