Supreme Court Case Highlights Dangers of Illegal Single-Use Clone Plastic Cartridges

Planet Green Cartridges, National Stewardship Action Council, Stewardship Action Foundation, and the National Illegal Single-Use Clone Printer Cartridges Working Group working together toward solutions for consumers, businesses, and the environment 

Illegal Single-Use Plastic Waste: A Growing Problem

Every year, millions of illegal single-use clone printer cartridges flood the U.S. market. Marketed as falsely labeled “remanufactured,” these products are often nothing more than cheaply made copies built from virgin plastics, designed for one-time use, and sold without proper end-of-life management. 

The impacts are widespread: 

• Consumers are deceived into thinking they are buying environmentally friendly products. 

• Legitimate remanufacturers lose market share despite investing in sustainable reuse systems. 

• The environment suffers from unnecessary plastic waste and toxic materials. 

Despite repeated warnings, counterfeit cartridges continue to appear on major platforms such as Amazon—sometimes even promoted by Amazon’s own algorithms and advertising tools. 

The Supreme Court's Opportunity

The U.S. Supreme Court has directed Amazon to respond to a petition from Planet Green Cartridges, a California-based remanufacturer that has fought deceptive listings for years. 

At issue is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects online platforms from liability for third-party content. Amazon has invoked this protection in lower courts, but Planet Green argues that knowingly permitting and profiting from deceptive and illegal listings is different. 

The Court’s request for Amazon’s response signals that at least some justices may see broader legal stakes. A ruling in Planet Green’s favor could narrow Section 230 protections and make platforms accountable for enabling single-use plastic waste disguised as green products. 

Solutions Already Underway

The Stewardship Action Foundation (SAF) and the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) are addressing the risks of clone cartridges through the National Illegal Single-Use Printer Cartridges Working Group, with solutions including: 

• Policy Advocacy – Supporting proposals like a Los Angeles ordinance to ban clone-compatible cartridges. 

• Consumer Protection that assures buyers they are not being duped lied to, enticing them to purchase something that is not environmentally friendly as advertised– Launching the Certified Remanufactured Printer Cartridges (CRPC) badge, which helps consumers, resellers, and regulators identify genuine remanufactured products. Learn more at thecrpc.com. 

• Industry Collaboration – Convening manufacturers, recyclers, and policymakers to create fair and sustainable markets. 

This work builds on broader efforts like California’s SB 343 (Truth in Labeling for Recyclable Materials), co-sponsored by NSAC and Californians Against Waste, which addresses misleading recyclability claims. Both initiatives are rooted in the principle that truth in labeling is essential to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses, and reduce single-use plastic waste. 

What You Can Do

Addressing this problem requires both systemic change and individual action. You can: 

• Be an informed buyer: Check for the Certified Remanufactured Printer Cartridges (CRPC) badge before purchasing. 

• Raise your voice in Congress: Urge your elected officials to strengthen the SHOP SAFE Act by including explicit liability for false labeling, deceptive advertising, and misleading claims. 

Looking Ahead

The Supreme Court’s review could signal a turning point in how online platforms are held accountable for the products they promote and profit from. Regardless of the Court’s decision, Planet Green Cartridges, the National Stewardship Action Council, the Stewardship Action Foundation, and the National Illegal Single-Use Printer Cartridges Working Group will continue working to stop single-use plastic waste at its source, protect consumers, and uphold truth in labeling. 

Join Our National Working Group

We invite governments, companies, NGOs, and advocates to join the National Illegal Single-Use Printer Cartridges Working Group. Together, we can advance policies, protect consumers, and build markets that value genuine remanufactured products over wasteful, illegal single-use clones. Learn more by contacting heath@nsaction.us. 

Sample Outreach to Congress

Dear Senator/Congressman [Last Name], 

We urge you to take immediate action to strengthen the SHOP SAFE Act by ensuring it includes explicit liability for false labeling, deceptive advertising, misleading claims, and unsubstantiated marketing. Ecommerce giants like Amazon, Walmart, Newegg, and eBay already set policies for third-party sellers—yet when violations occur, these platforms too often look the other way. If they profit from unlawful commercial activity, they must also be held responsible for policing it. 

Congress never intended Section 230 to shield ecommerce platforms from accountability while they profit from fraudulent practices. Yet that is exactly what’s happening—at the expense of consumers and legitimate American businesses. 

The problem is especially acute with overseas sellers who evade U.S. law and accountability in our courts. Consumers are deceived or harmed by unsafe products, while innovators who built strong brands see their reputations destroyed by knockoffs and counterfeits. Platforms profit regardless—collecting fees, pushing ads, and fulfilling orders without consequence. 

When consumers and businesses seek redress, platforms offer inadequate responses, and when lawsuits arise, they hide behind Section 230. This loophole undermines consumer safety, punishes innovators, and rewards platforms for turning a blind eye. 

The internet has changed dramatically since Section 230 was enacted. It is time for Congress to make clear: ecommerce platforms are not immune when they knowingly profit from unlawful activity. The SHOP SAFE Act can provide that clarity—ensuring fairness for businesses, accountability for platforms, and protection for consumers, just as they would expect from their neighborhood store. 

We respectfully ask you to support and advance amendments to the SHOP SAFE Act and move it forward to hold platforms to the same standards as brick-and-mortar retailers. Every day this loophole remains open, more consumers are harmed, and more American businesses lose ground. The integrity of our marketplace—and the trust of the American people—depends on it. 

Thank you for your leadership on this issue. We stand ready to work with you to ensure the SHOP SAFE Act fulfills its promise. 

Sincerely,