According to the EPA’s most recent release of “Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling”, over 10,000,000 tons of plastic packaging and containers was landfilled by Americans in 2018.  In response to this, it is increasingly common for governments (both local and national) to pass legislation banning the use of single-use plastic bags, packaging and utensils.  As a result, packaging and bag manufacturers are pivoting and re-designing their products to be certified as reusable. 

​

Assured Testing Services can assist in reusable shopping bag (RSB) certification testing.  This testing generally consists of tests that help manufacturers understand the durability and lifespan of the bag.  Such tests include capacity, durability and cleanability testing.

​

One protocol used to certify bags as reusable is The California Environmental Choice Program Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP001.)  It involves three tests:  Capacity, Static Load, and Dynamic Test.   Assured Testing is able to support reusable bag manufacturers and distributors with all three of these RSB certification tests.  We have designed and built a certification testing apparatus meeting the requirements outlined in the ATP100 procedure. Shown on this page.

​

This device is used in the Dynamic test, which simulates lifting the reusable bag 2700 times while filled with a 10kg standard load.  The load is a combination of wooden blocks and metal paint cans that simulate consumers using the bag in the real world.  Visual inspections and dimensional measurements are used to confirm the performance of the bag throughout the test.

​

You can learn more about the Environmental Choice Program by clicking here.

​

​