Wipes Policy
INDA member companies represent wipes fabric makers, wipes manufacturers, and brand owners operating in North America. Wipes legislation, ranging from labeling requirements to ingredient contents, are a critical focus of INDA’s advocacy efforts. In recent years, INDA has partnered with nonwoven industry stakeholders and the wastewater industry to ensure the design and marketing of wipes products remain valuable goods to the consumers while minimizing wastewater infrastructure and the environment.
We have worked collaboratively with municipal wastewater agencies to enact model Do Not Flush labeling requirements for wipes not intended to be flushed in many other states including California, Oregon, Illinois, Washington, New Jersey, and Colorado.
A Federal Solution: the WIPPES Act
The Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (S.1350/H.R. 2964), or WIPPES Act, is a key Congressional effort to provide a federal standard and national enforcement of Do Not Flush labeling for wipes labeling. The WIPPES Act has advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and now awaits a vote on the House Floor.
Solving this problem on the federal level will allow for continued national labeling to ensure consumer understanding and allow the Federal Trade Commission to coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency on the interplay between the Do Not Flush Label and other federal-mandated labels under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and other federal laws covering products such as disinfecting wipes. If you are interested in joining INDA’s engagement on the bill, please contact wfisher ‘at’ inda.org.
Wipes Legislation Center
Our policy tracking software monitors both state and federal legislation concerning sanitary wipes, flushable wipes, and similar products. Below you will find a regularly updated map highlighting regions affected by proposed or enacted regulations. Additionally, an interactive bill sheet is prominently displayed, providing users with detailed information on bills, their status, and relevant legislative details.
