Beyond the Bag Challenge Additional Resources

Beyond the Bag participants can access an ever-growing collection of resources linked on this page. From data to tools to exercises, use these resources to help your team research and develop your solutions.

Resources Overview – Bag Types

SUP Bag

  • Plastic Film Recycling (link)

Plastic Reusable

  • California standards for reusables (link)

Biobased

Paper

  • EPA paperboard and packaging sourcing standards (link)
  • FSC principles and standards (link) and certification
  • SFI responsibly sourced fiber (link)

Tote

  • California standards for reusables (link)

Resources Overview – Value Chain

Full Value Chain

  1. Highest performance standards for reusable bags in the US
  2. US EPA FAQ on Plastic Recycling, Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics
  3. US EPA Sustainable Materials Management basics
  4. ISO 14021: Environmental labels and declarations
  5. SPC Recycled Content Guide
  6. FTC Environmental Marketing Claims

Sourcing and Manufacturing

  1. Recycled Content Certification (also available in Mandarin)
  2. Responsibly sourced fiber certification: SFI from the U.S. and Canada only
  3. Responsibly sourced fiber certification: PEFC from Anguilla, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, or the UK
  4. Plastic Bag Material Types
  5. Obtaining an FDA No Objection Letter
  6. SPC Recycled Content Guide
  7. Chemical Footprint Program
  8. GreenScreen List
  9. EPA Chemicals and Toxics Topics

Health and Safety:

  1. Obtaining no objection letter from FDA
  2. CDC guidance for grocery workers
  3. GreenScreen List
  4. EPA Chemicals and Toxics Topics
  5. PFAS Laws and Regulations

End of Life

  1. ASTM D6400: Compostable Product Test – Composting
  2. EN 13432: Composting test for E.U
  3. EN 14995: Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme and specifications from the European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
  4. EN 13432: Packaging - Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation - from the European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
  5. ASTM D6691: Marine biodegradability test
  6. Composting test for Canada: CAN/BNQ 0017-088
  7. BPI Certification for compostability
  8. Home composting Certification: TUV
  9. Association of Plastics Recyclers: Guide for plastics recyclability
  10. Ellen MacArthur, The New Plastics Economy, Rethinking the Future of Plastics (describes type of recycling and innovations in recycling)
  11. EPA plastic recycling, biodegradable and compostable plastics
  12. SPC’s How2Recycle
  13. SPC’s How2Compost
  14. Plastic Film Recycling
  15. California Degradable Plastic Labeling Requirements: Biobased and Degradable Plastics
Design Inspiration

Personas and Use Cases

'A New Way Home' Report

Kickoff Webinar with Closed Loop Partners