Washington D.C.— The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) announced its disappointment in the White House’s Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities.
“We are disappointed in today’s White House announcement, which arbitrarily singles out plastic under the false pretense of a lower environmental impact,” said Matt Seaholm, PLASTICS President and CEO. “The Plastics Industry Association and its member companies are dedicated to keeping plastic waste out of the environment, and we continue to collaborate with policymakers at all levels of government to achieve this goal.
“Instead of targeting plastics, we support investing in improving our country’s recycling infrastructure and are pleased to see this priority included in the White House’s strategy. New innovations, like advanced recycling, which increase the efficiency, amount, and types of plastics that can be recycled, must not be stifled. Furthermore, we support well-crafted extended producer responsibility policies and reasonable nationally recognized recycled content requirements.
“Plastic as a material continues to offer unparalleled safety, protection, and efficiency and can be reused and recycled, reducing our overall resource needs. An independent analysis of plastic and its alternatives showed plastic was better for the environment in 13 out of 14 common applications. The White House’s announcement does not acknowledge this truth and will not get us closer to our sustainability goals.
“Our industry is ready to come to the table and work with the Administration and Congress to keep plastic waste out of the environment. Instead of implementing arbitrary bans that don’t address our environmental challenges, we need to collaborate on sound policies that will truly help us achieve circularity,” concluded Seaholm.
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $548 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the seventh largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE2024: The Plastics Show.