I was reading a trade publication last week and came across something that made me stop and think about a few of my clients.
Three packaging regulations — one in the EU, one in California, one in China — are either already live or going into effect this year. And each of them changes what kind of bags and packaging you can legally put on the market.
The EU one is probably the biggest. From August 2026, all packaging sold in the EU has to be designed for reuse or recycling. Not as an aspiration. As a requirement.
California is closing the loophole that let thicker plastic bags pass as “reusable.” And seven US states now have laws that make brands financially responsible for what happens to their packaging after it’s used.
China’s ban on non-degradable bags is now fully nationwide — including postal and delivery.
I’m not an expert on regulation. But I sit on the manufacturing side, and I can see how this connects to what my clients are sourcing. The material behind your bag, the certifications it carries, the way it’s constructed — these things are starting to matter legally, not just optically.
If you’re planning any bag or packaging orders for the second half of this year, it might be worth a quick look at what’s changed.
We put together a short, plain-English summary of the three regulations that matter most for textile-based bags. No legal jargon, just what you need to know.
Warmly,
Deven
Founder, Bag Studio
