The Recycled Materials Attribution Act (RMAA) has been introduced in the United States Senate, marking a significant step towards federal standardisation of recycled-content claims for packaging. The bipartisan bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework for utilising mass balance attribution, a methodology crucial for tracking recycled feedstocks when they are co-processed alongside virgin materials during chemical recycling.
Currently, the lack of unified national standards for mass balance claims creates regulatory uncertainty for consumer brands and packaging manufacturers. If enacted, the RMAA would direct the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to recognise independent, third-party certification programmes. This legislative push closely mirrors ongoing regulatory debates in both the UK and the European Union regarding how chemically recycled polymers are credited under environmental and taxation frameworks.
For UK packaging converters and Turkish recyclers serving multinational supply chains, this US development is highly relevant. Global consumer brands increasingly demand uniform packaging specifications across different jurisdictions. If the US formalises mass balance attribution, it will intensify pressure on the UK government—which is still finalising its stance on allowing mass balance evidence under the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT)—and the EU to harmonise their certification rules. Turkish recyclers investing in advanced recycling technologies must monitor these international standards to ensure their certified outputs remain compliant and commercially viable in both European and transatlantic markets.
As a practical takeaway, companies should proactively adopt robust chain-of-custody certifications, such as ISCC PLUS. As regulatory frameworks on both sides of the Atlantic move towards formalising mass balance, having verifiable, third-party audited data will be essential to defend recycled-content claims and mitigate compliance risks.
