Big Government Mandates Won’t Solve Our Plastic Waste Problem. Here Are Four Solutions That Will.

This week, government representatives and organizations from all over the globe will arrive in Paris, France for the second of five meetings to establish an international agreement to address the global challenge of plastic waste. The process, established by the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA), was created with an ambition to keep plastic out of our environment; however, some countries and thousands of environmental activists are making the pilgrimage to France to stop plastic production altogether. Not only is this a misguided approach to sustainability, it fails to acknowledge a fundamental truth—plastic is essential to the human health, survival and protection of our society.

So, I would like to offer some suggestions that I believe may help us to reach an actual global agreement. Let’s start by concurrently agreeing that we need plastic in our lives and that we all want to keep it from getting into our environment.

A group of us representing the plastics industry will be present at these important talks over the next two years, because we know that every bit of plastic waste that leaves the economy is just that – a waste on every level. Instead, plastic should be viewed as a resource that is too valuable to permit to leak into our environment. Let me be clear, we want to see an agreement that we can carry out, effectively, with a goal of eliminating plastic waste.

Going into this meeting, we’d like to see things happen that can set the stage for real success:

1. Create the framework for ambitious yet achievable goals that produce a final agreement the United States can sign and agree to. While we know that the vast majority of plastic waste entering our world’s environment comes from developing nations with limited waste management infrastructure, we also know that America must continue to lead in sustainable solutions through innovation and investment.
2. Sincere and collaborative partnerships that garner real success. Achieving the goal of eliminating plastic waste in the environment can only be achieved through collaboration and support of all aspects of society, including industry, academia, civil society and governments. The final product of these negotiations should be a consensus agreement and not solely a political statement that achieves little.
3. A greater commitment to data and transparency. A free market with consistent, transparent information allows the most dynamic and efficient means to any outcome. It’s a bit embarrassing that here in the United States, the “latest” recycling data published by the EPA is from 2018. We need to do better to make sound public policy; any agreement should include the development of standardized terminology, data and reporting elements.
4. Dedication to fostering circularity, including recycling as requisite towards the elimination of plastic waste, and not preoccupation on production caps or bans. We must recycle more, period. The plastics industry is committed to increased recycling, but recycling systems haven’t evolved with the incredible innovations in materials and products. We must also consider the vast differences between sanitation systems across the globe, especially in developing countries, and remember that national action plans must be the driver of progress. By focusing on increasing global recycling rates, rather than overreaching, one-size-fits-all mandates, we can reach collaborative, impactful outcomes.

Let us not forget that the UN Global Plastics Treaty discussion is modeled off of the UN Climate Change Conference Paris Agreement. Ironically, we can’t achieve long-term climate goals without plastic. It’s plastic that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing food waste, makes the efficiency of electric vehicles possible—not to mention EV batteries, enables the function of wind turbines and solar energy farms and offers lightweight properties that conserve energy throughout its lifecycle, especially while being transported. When concepts such as plastic production caps are thrown around during negotiations in the name of achieving our common climate goals, applications such as these must be considered, without fail. 

While we’ll undoubtedly observe more than a fair share of hyperbole, I am hopeful that treaty discussions will remain focused on reducing plastic waste in the environment, especially marine environments. We can commit to ending plastic waste while acknowledging the essential nature of plastic – we absolutely cannot do one without the other. The Plastics Industry Association looks to partner with our industry colleagues, and support international efforts to promote the elimination of plastic waste from the environment. We welcome the opportunity to participate in the global discussions taking place in Paris, and hope to add to the collaborative spirit of the negotiations.

Matt Seaholm is the President and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association.