Why a Safe Product Still Requires a Prop 65 Advisory

🌿 Understanding CA Prop 65 on Everyday Items Like Reusable Tote Bags

If you’ve ever noticed a California Proposition 65 warning on a perfectly ordinary product — a tote bag, a mug, a keychain, even a garden hose — you’re not alone.

These warnings can look intimidating, but they don’t necessarily mean the product is unsafe.

Here’s the simple truth behind the label, especially for items made from polypropylene, like many reusable shopping bags.

🌼 Is Polypropylene Considered Unsafe by California?

No.
Polypropylene — the material used in many reusable eco‑friendly bags — is not on California’s Prop 65 list of harmful chemicals. Manufacturers confirm that polypropylene itself does not contain any Prop 65 chemicals.

So why the warning?

 

🧩 Why a Safe Product Can Still Require a Prop 65 Advisory

California’s Proposition 65 is a right‑to‑know law, not a safety rating.

A warning is required if any part of the product — even the ink used in printing the floral design — might contain trace amounts of one of the 950+ chemicals on the Prop 65 list.

That means:

• The bag material is safe
• But the dyes, inks, adhesives, or manufacturing residues may contain tiny, detectable amounts of a listed chemical
• So companies include the advisory to comply with California law

A Prop 65 warning does not mean the product is dangerous. It means the manufacturer is being transparent.

 

🌸 What This Means for My Store’s Reusable Floral Shopper Bags

These bags are made from 100% polypropylene, a lightweight, durable, and widely used material. Polypropylene itself is not considered harmful under Prop 65.

However, because the bags include printed floral designs and are manufactured using processes that may involve trace chemicals, I include the required CA Prop 65 Advisory for customers in California.

This keeps everything compliant and transparent — without implying that the product is unsafe.

 

📝 The Advisory You’ll See on Product Pages

CA Prop 65 Advisory (Required for California Sales):
This product is made from 100% polypropylene.

Polypropylene itself is not listed under California Proposition 65. However, certain dyes, inks, or manufacturing materials used in the production process may contain trace amounts of listed chemicals. This advisory is provided to comply with California’s right‑to‑know requirements.