Materials & Packaging

US Voters Support Policies That Reduce Single-Use Plastics

Oceana releases new poll, calls on lawmakers to continue momentum behind solutions to problematic plastics.

Published 2 months ago | About a 4 minute read

Image: Shvets Production

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.