SACRAMENTO, CA. — Assembly Bill (AB) 2253 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) passed 42-19 from the Assembly Floor and is headed to the State Senate. AB 2253, known as the Protecting Consumers Against Greenwashing Act, would protect consumers from deceptive recycled content claims by requiring companies that advertise recycled content in their products to be honest about the amount of recycled material used. The bills is sponsored by Californians Against Waste.
“Consumers should be able to trust the claims that companies make about their products,” stated Assemblymember Boerner. “Many businesses are sending misleading messages to Californians with false recycled content claims and profiting off consumers who are trying to make environmentally conscious choices. AB 2253 helps ensure honesty and accountability in the marketplace while protecting consumers and supporting real sustainability efforts.”
“California has a chance to lead again by making recycled-content claims mean what people think they mean," said Nick Lapis, Director of Advocacy at Californians Against Waste, the sponsor of AB 2253. "If a company wants the credit, it should put recycled materials in the product, not hide behind a bookkeeping gimmick. Otherwise, consumers are stuck with labels they cannot trust, which not only undercuts faith in the entire recycling system, but also creates an uneven playing field for manufacturers that are doing the right thing.”
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Assemblymember Tasha Boerner represents the 77th District, which encompasses Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Coronado and the coastal communities of La Jolla south to Downtown San Diego. You can learn more about Assemblymember Boerner at a77.asmdc.org, Facebook, Instagram, or BlueSky.