Hot on the heels of a new nationwide
poll
revealing overwhelming US voter support for policies that reduce single-use
plastics, the new administration revealed its latest counterintuitive edict: to reverse the Biden administration’s “ridiculous push for
paper straws” and go “back to
plastic!”
It’s unclear whether the plan is to just re-embrace plastic straws or to reverse
the entire Biden-era phase-out of single-use
plastic
from the federal government’s foodservice operations, events and packaging.
Regardless, the new research from ocean conservation NGO
Oceana highlights the US public’s understanding and
concern about the environmental and health impacts of plastic build-up —
particularly, single-use plastic foodservice items including bottles, plastic
bags and polystyrene foam containers — in the world’s waterways. The national
online poll, conducted for Oceana by the nonpartisan market research firm
Ipsos using its probability-based
KnowledgePanel®, surveyed a cross
section of 1,111 registered US voters — Republicans (360), Democrats
(345) and Independents (330) — in December 2024.
Eight in 10 respondents reported concern about plastic pollution, with
widespread support across party lines for reducing the amount of plastic
produced and requiring companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging and
foodware.
“President Trump is moving in the wrong direction on single-use plastics,” said Christy
Leavitt, Oceana’s
plastics campaign director. “Every minute, two garbage trucks’ worth of plastic
flood into the oceans. Beaches filled with plastic are not only harmful to our
oceans but also bad for business. Clean oceans and beaches support US
communities, coastal economies, and businesses that rely on tourism.
“Instead of doing what is necessary to protect Americans’ health, communities
and coasts from pervasive plastic pollution, President Trump is announcing
executive orders that are more about messaging than finding solutions,” she
added. “President Trump should be making the US a global leader in addressing
the plastics crisis at the source by reducing the production and use of
single-use plastics and moving to reuse and refill systems.”
Plastic landscape
Plastic has been found in every corner of the world in drinking
water,
beer, salt, honey and more. It’s also one of the greatest contributors to
climate change: If plastic were a country, it would be the world’s
fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse
gases.
With plastic production continuing to grow at a rapid rate, increased amounts of
plastic waste clogging the planet will have devastating consequences for human,
animal and ecosystem health.
Less than 6 percent of plastic in the US is recycled, yet the plastics industry
continues to tout recycling as a panacea while pushing new plastic products onto
the market. Companies need to dramatically reduce the production and use of
unnecessary single-use plastic, provide plastic-free choices, and develop
systems that refill and reuse packaging and foodware. Elected officials must
enact policies to ensure they do so.
Key findings from registered voters polled include:
-
81 percent support reducing the amount of plastic that is produced.
-
88 percent are concerned about
microplastics
present in our food, water and bodies.
-
80 percent support requiring companies to reduce single-use plastic
packaging and foodware.
-
82 percent support protecting people in neighborhoods affected by
pollution from plastic-production
facilities.
-
82 percent of US voters support reducing the amount of single-use plastic
state and federal governments buy and use.
-
85 percent support increasing the use of reusable
packaging
and
foodware.
“The results are clear: US voters are united in their concern about plastic
pollution and the need for strong policies to address it,” Leavitt said.
“Lawmakers must take action to reduce the amount of plastic being produced and
move from throwaway plastic to refillable and reusable systems. Policies to
reduce single-use plastic items have overwhelming support from American voters.
It’s time for our federal and state leaders to reduce plastic pollution at the
source.”
As is the case with the administration’s ongoing reversal of pretty much any
federal initiatives related to climate
action,
any federal policy changes regarding single-use plastics will likely not stymie
state-level and business progress toward better solutions. So far, 12
states and
hundreds of local governments have passed laws to phase out plastic foam
products; eight
states
have banned plastic grocery bags; and
eight
have banned plastic straws — and startup
innovators,
investors
and industry
giants
are busy developing and scaling viable
sustainable,
biodegradable
and
reusable
alternatives for all.
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Feb 7, 2025 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT / 8pm CET