Why a Swiss customer asked us to change their bag
A customer in Switzerland asked us to remove “flushable” from their bag design. The Swiss federal environment office directs households to dispose of used litter with household waste. Since that project, when a buyer asks us to print “flushable,” we first ask where the bags will be sold.
What happens after the litter leaves the tray?
In the pipe. A pellet breaking apart in a glass of water tells you how that sample behaves under those conditions. It does not establish how a clump will travel through a toilet or drain. Otsu City warns that even products labeled flushable can cause a blockage.
In the wastewater. An infected cat can shed Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in its feces. Changing the litter material does not remove that risk. UC Davis advises against flushing kitty litter because sewage treatment may fail to kill the oocysts. Researchers have linked infections with sea otter deaths in California. UC Davis Wildlife Health Center
Flushing rules and guidance by market
Use the locations below to identify the authority and the decision it controls. A packaging requirement governs what appears on the bag. A sewer rule or waste collection instruction governs disposal in its service area.
| Market | Type of rule | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | Federal disposal rule | Used cat litter belongs with household waste for incineration. Disposal through the sewer is prohibited, including for plant-based litter. Swiss Federal Office for the Environment |
| California, USA | State labeling law | Fish and Game Code §4501(b) requires any cat litter offered for sale in the state to carry one of two statements. A brand may use the statutory text or a general statement encouraging disposal of cat feces in trash and discouraging flushing or disposal in drains. Review both options before approving artwork. California Legislature, §4501 |
| Italy · Rivieracqua service area | Sewer regulation | Rivieracqua explicitly prohibits putting cat litter into drains on its network. Confirm the operator for each destination. Rivieracqua sewer regulation |
| Spain · Ciudad Real | Municipal ordinance | The city lists sand, manure and animal waste among prohibited sewer discharges. Check the ordinance for the municipality where the pack will be sold. Ciudad Real sewer ordinance |
| Germany · Berlin | Utility guidance | Berliner Wasserbetriebe specifically includes cat litter among the materials to keep out of the toilet. Berliner Wasserbetriebe |
| United Kingdom · Yorkshire | Utility guidance | Yorkshire Water asks customers to flush only pee, poo and toilet paper. Cat litter falls outside that list. Yorkshire Water |
| Australia · New South Wales | Public housing guidance | The NSW Government advises public housing tenants to flush only toilet paper and human waste. Check the local utility’s instructions for the intended sales area. NSW Government |
| Japan · Otsu | City utility guidance | Otsu asks residents to keep cat feces and litter out of toilets. Its guidance explicitly includes litter labeled flushable because pipes can still clog. Otsu City |
| South Korea · Paju | Municipal waste collection | Paju lists tofu cat litter for collection in designated volume-based household waste bags. Check the local waste directory for the litter material and address. Paju City waste directory |
Before approving private-label artwork
- Identify the destination. Give the packaging team the country, state or city and the relevant water operator. Use separate artwork where required wording differs.
- Check the claim against the evidence. Ask what the selected formula was tested for. Spain’s UNE 149002 and Australia’s AS/NZS 5328:2022 address flushability criteria. Confirm scope and applicability before referring to either standard on a pack.
- Approve the disposal instruction. Where the local authority directs household waste disposal, give that instruction clearly. For California, check the two statutory label options with the person responsible for market compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Is tofu cat litter flushable?
Some tofu pellets disperse in water. Follow the destination’s waste guidance for used litter. Avoid flushing it where a water authority prohibits or discourages it.
Is flushing cat litter illegal everywhere?
Rules vary. Switzerland prohibits sewer disposal. California requires a statement on the pack. Other entries above describe a particular city or utility.
Can I print “flushable” on a private-label bag?
Check the market rules, evidence for the finished product and wording with your local labeling adviser before signing off the artwork.
For a new range, review our tofu cat litter specifications and private-label packaging guide, or send us your destination market and packaging brief.