California generates nearly 15 billion plastic beverage containers annually, yet plastic caps remain a leading source of plastic pollution in the state. SB 45 (Padilla & Blakespear) will require plastic beverage bottles under 2 liters to use tethered caps by 2027.
SB 45 will require plastic beverage bottles under 2 liters to use tethered caps—caps that remain attached to their bottles throughout their lifecycle—by 2027. ISSUE
California generates nearly 15 billion plastic beverage containers annually, yet plastic caps remain a leading source of plastic pollution in the state. Senate Bill 45 (Padilla & Blakespear) will require plastic beverage bottles under 2 liters to use tethered caps—caps that remain attached to their bottles throughout their lifecycle.
This simple, yet highly effective solution will:
Reduce litter
Increase recycling rates
Protect wildlife from plastic ingestion
SB 45 aligns California with the European Union’s successful 2024 tethered cap policy, ensuring California remains at the forefront of plastic pollution reduction efforts.
THE PROBLEM
✅ 16,600+ tons of plastic caps are littered or landfilled annually in California. ✅ Plastic caps are among the top five most littered items on California beaches ✅ Less than 40% of caps are successfully recovered for recycling ✅ Plastic caps pose a severe threat to wildlife, causing ingestion-related deaths in both marine and terrestrial species ✅ When caps detach, they often escape recycling facilities due to their small size, leading to incineration or landfill disposal
THE SOLUTION
By keeping caps attached to bottles, SB 45 will: 🔹 Reduce plastic cap litter by 50% 🔹 Double the recycling rate for plastic caps 🔹 Improve material recovery, ensuring caps are properly recycled 🔹 Prevent marine life ingestion, reducing fatal plastic pollution 🔹 Standardize California policy with international best practices
PRECEDENT IN THE EU
In 2019, the EU adopted a tethered cap requirement, which took effect July 2024. Major beverage brands—including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé have already adapted to the change with lighter, consumer-friendly cap designs.
Results from the EU policy indicate: 🔹 5% annual reduction in plastic leakage into oceans 🔹 20% lighter bottles, cutting plastic use while maintaining functionality 🔹 No consumer price increase, as demonstrated by Crystal Geyser
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