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Virginia: sustainable packaging labelling
Virginia requires covered plastic bottles and rigid plastic containers to carry a clearly visible 1-7 chasing-arrows resin-identification code on or near the bottom. A violation is punishable by a fine of not more than 50 dollars, and each day of violation is a separate offence.
Executive summary
Section 10.1-1415.1 of the Code of Virginia makes it unlawful for any person to sell, expose for sale or distribute any plastic bottle or rigid plastic container unless the container is labelled indicating the plastic resin used to produce the container. The label shall consist of a number placed within three triangulated arrows and letters placed below the triangle of arrows. It shall appear on or near the bottom of the container and be clearly visible.
The statute is a material-identification rule. The chasing-arrows geometry is prescribed as the code carrier; it is not a legal finding that the finished package is accepted in Virginia recycling systems. No statewide beverage-container deposit mark or packaging-specific compostability presentation statute was identified.
Legal status at a glance
| Requirement | Status | Operational meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Covered plastic bottle or rigid container | mandatory | The package carries a clearly visible 1-7 chasing-arrows code on or near the bottom. |
| Size thresholds | in force | Plastic bottles of 16 fluid ounces or more but less than five gallons, and rigid plastic containers of eight ounces or more but less than five gallons, are in scope. |
| Beverage-deposit, compostability or wipe mark | none identified | No generally applicable state presentation rule in these categories was identified within this report’s scope. |
| Voluntary environmental claim | claim-dependent | Claims remain subject to the FTC Green Guides and Virginia’s Consumer Protection Act. |
Covered bottles and rigid containers
A “plastic bottle” means a plastic container intended for single use that has a neck smaller than the container, accepts a screw-type, snap cap or other closure, and has a capacity of 16 fluid ounces or more but less than five gallons. A “rigid plastic container” means any formed or molded container, other than a bottle, intended for single use, composed predominantly of plastic resin, and having a relatively inflexible finite shape or form with a capacity of eight ounces or more but less than five gallons. “Container,” unless otherwise specified, refers to those two articles.
Required symbol and placement
The triangulated arrows shall be equilateral, formed by three arrows with the apex of each point of the triangle at the midpoint of each arrow, rounded with a short radius. The pointer of each arrow shall be at the midpoint of each side of the triangle, with a short gap separating the pointer from the base of the adjacent arrow. The triangle, formed by three arrows curved at their midpoints, shall depict a clockwise path around the code number.
The numbers and letters are 1 PETE, 2 HDPE, 3 V, 4 LDPE, 5 PP, 6 PS and 7 OTHER for any other plastic resin. Placement is on or near the bottom, and the mark must be clearly visible. The geometry is the traditional SPI chasing-arrows triangle.
Penalty
Any person convicted of a violation of subsection A shall be punished by a fine of not more than 50 dollars. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offence. The modest per-day amount can accumulate across inventory days and should not be treated as a licence to omit the mark from a national production run.
Claims and neighbouring regimes
The resin code identifies the plastic resin used to produce the container. Surrounding words or an unqualified “recyclable” statement require separate substantiation. Virginia was not identified as having a packaging-specific environmental-marketing claims statute. The Virginia Consumer Protection Act remains relevant to deceptive representations, and the FTC Green Guides continue to inform federal enforcement.
Practical artwork checklist
Classify the finished article under the bottle and rigid-container definitions. Inspect a clearly visible 1-7 chasing-arrows code on or near the bottom. Do not treat the triangle as a recyclability claim. Review any additional environmental language against the Green Guides.
Primary sources and verification
Virginia General Assembly. Va. Code section 10.1-1415.1, labelling of plastic container products required; penalty. Official Code of Virginia
Plastics Industry Association. State plastic resin identification code survey, hosted by Oregon DEQ. Comparative survey
Federal Trade Commission. Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 16 C.F.R. Part 260. Official Green Guides
Federal Trade Commission. Environmental Claims: Summary of the Green Guides. Business guidance
Each day of violation is a separate offence. Last verified: 21 August 2026.