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In early 2024, Minnesota became the first U.S. state to establish a product stewardship program for boat wrap, which is plastic used to protect a boat against moisture and damage from other elements during storage. The law (Minn. Stat. § 115A.1416) requires boat wrap producers to:

  • form or designate a stewardship organization
  • become members of that stewardship organization
  • operate under an approved stewardship plan to sell boat wrap or offer it for sale in or into Minnesota

The boat wrap product stewardship program must provide free collection, transportation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of boat wrap.

Stewardship organization

Commercial and Industrial Flexible Film Recycling Organization (CIFFRO) has been identified by member producers as the stewardship organization for this program. All producers offering a boat wrap for sale in or into Minnesota must become a member of CIFFRO.

After Sept. 1, 2025, no one may use, sell, or offer boat wrap for sale in or into Minnesota unless the producer participates in the approved stewardship plan through the stewardship organization. The MPCA is responsible for maintaining a list of producers and brands that are identified as compliant within the stewardship plan on this page. Retailers are responsible for reviewing this list before purchasing, selling, or distributing boat wrap.

List of CIFFRO members as of April 7, 2026:

  • Bioaqualife (brand: Bioaqualife)
  • Dr. Shrink (brand: Dr. Shrink)
  • Farm Plastic Supply (brand: Farm Plastic Supply)
  • Poly-America L.P. (brand: Husky Marine)
  • Transhield Inc. (brand: Transhield)

List of noncompliant producers

  • This list will be posted after any compliance and enforcement actions are closed.

Stewardship plan

The Minnesota stewardship plan was approved in August 2025.

Program oversight and participants

Producers
  • become a member of a single stewardship organization and operate under an approved plan
  • pay producer membership fees 
Retailers
  • review the posted list of producers to confirm compliance before purchasing boat wrap
  • may elect to participate as a designated boat wrap collection point 
Stewardship organization
  • coordinates and implements the program on behalf of producers
  • develops stewardship plans and annual reports
  • collects producer fees and pays annual administrative fee to the MPCA
  • provides educational materials to boat wrap purchasers, including information on the available options for collection, transportation, reuse, and recycling
MPCA
  • oversees stewardship program
  • establishes annual performance goals in consultation with the stewardship organization that must be incorporated into the stewardship plan and met by program
  • reviews and approves stewardship plans and annual reporting that tracks program progress and outcomes
  • maintains a list of all compliant producers and brands participating in an approved plan
  • ensures program compliance and enforcement

Definitions

"Boat wrap" means plastic that is used, intended for use, designed, or marketed for the purposes of wrapping a boat to protect it against moisture and damage from other potentially harmful elements during storage.  

"Stewardship organization" means an organization designated by one or more producers to act on their behalf as an agent to design, submit, and implement a product stewardship plan under this law. 

"Retailer" means a person that sells or offers boat wrap for sale in or into this state by any means.

"Producer" means, with respect to boat wrap that is sold, offered for sale, imported, or distributed in the state by any means, a person who:

  • manufactured the boat wrap under a brand that the person owns or controls
  • owns or controls or is licensed to use a brand for boat wrap
  • imported or imports the boat wrap into the United States
  • distributed or distributes boat wrap in or into the state

Additional clarification for producers

  • All persons that meet one of the definition clauses are producers.
  • Any identifying name or mark on a package attributing the product to a producer represents their brand, pursuant to 115A.1416 subd. 1(d): "Brand" means a name, symbol, word, or mark that identifies boat wrap and attributes it to the boat wrap producer. 

Cases of multiple producers

There may be multiple producers for each branded or unbranded product line sold or offered for sale in or into the state, since the definition of producer includes businesses across the distribution chain.

All producers must enter into membership agreements with the single stewardship organization implementing a single stewardship plan in order for their branded or unbranded product to be sold or offered for sale in or into the state, pursuant to subd. 3 of the law.

Through their membership agreements with the stewardship organization, producers must implement and finance the statewide program under an approved stewardship plan, pursuant to subd. 2.  Where there are multiple producers in the distribution chain for a branded or unbranded product line, the producers in that distribution chain and the stewardship organization may negotiate the details of financing that best meet the needs of the producers associated with that product line. 

Pursuant to subd. 18 of the law, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has the authority to request that all producers in the distribution chain for each branded or unbranded product line sold or offered for sale in or into Minnesota (manufacturer under a brand they own/control, brand owner/licensee, importer, or distributor in or into Minnesota) identify themselves, their stewardship organization membership status, and known producers in their distribution chain for the purpose of determining compliance. MPCA intends to communicate with all known producers after the stewardship plan is approved and will continue to seek out and communicate with producers. 

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Key dates in Minnesota statute

DatesTask(s)
March 1, 2025The stewardship organization submits stewardship plan to the MPCA for review and approval or rejection.
June 1, 2025 (and annually thereafter)The MPCA identifies agency costs to administer and enforce the program.
July 1, 2025 (and annually thereafter)The stewardship organization pays the required administrative fee.
July 1, 2025 (and annually thereafter) MPCA completes plan review and notifies the stewardship organization of plan approval or rejection. A revised plan is not subject to public comment.
Sept. 1, 2025No person may use boat wrap, sell boat wrap, or offer boat wrap for sale in or into Minnesota unless the producer participates in the approved stewardship plan through the designated stewardship organization.
March 1, 2026 (and annually thereafter)The stewardship organization must submit an annual report to the MPCA. The annual report will include boat wrap sales and boat wrap recovery data. 
2026-2027Following the reporting of sales and recovery data, the MPCA will establish performance goals for the program in consultation with the stewardship organization. If performance goals are not subsequently met, the stewardship organization must discuss why the goals were not met and propose collection program modifications (stewardship plan amendments) to ensure that future performance goals will be met. 
June 1, 2030No less than 50% of the total weight of boat wrap sold in Minnesota must be collected and recycled.
June 1, 2035No less than 80% of the total weight of boat wrap sold in Minnesota must be collected and recycled.

How is this law enforced?

The MPCA is authorized to enforce the boat wrap product stewardship program under Minn. Stat. §§ 115.071 and 116.072. If you are aware of producers or retailers that you believe are not complying with the law, you may submit a complaint online: Report a violation of environmental regulations (non-emergency) > Submit a complaint > Log in as guest > Citizen complaint > Enter Complaint. 

In accordance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, the identities of individuals who submit complaints concerning potential violations are classified and protected as confidential data. Learn more about MPCA’s compliance and enforcement program.

Additional resources