Technological watch

WASHINGTON (March 25, 2021) – ACC released this statement in response to a press conference held yesterday by proponents of the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act for its introduction in Congress. The following may be attributed to Joshua Baca, ACC’s vice president of plastics:

America’s plastic makers stand ready to work with Congress on pragmatic, bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing waste and building the systems and infrastructure we need to reuse more of our plastic resources in U.S. manufacturing. 

Despite claims made by this bill’s proponents, the legislative intent is clear. This act would:

• “pause” the production of plastic, resulting in supply chain disruptions that would impede America’s manufacturing resilience and our ability to bounce back economically after crises, such as the current pandemic; 
• result in shortages of essential materials used throughout the medical supply chain to fight the pandemic, including face masks, shields, medical gowns, syringes, and sanitary packaging;
• block advanced recycling technologies, which allow us to recycle significantly more types and greater amounts of plastic to create new products, and provide well-paying jobs; and
• restrict the very products needed to combat climate change, such as wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles, as well as the lightweight plastics that make our cars and homes dramatically more energy efficient, which significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The Act’s supporters correctly claim that it’s designed to get rid of plastic, a highly efficient and essential material that helps avoid greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to sustainable living.

America’s Plastic Makers and value chain partners are working to build a more sustainable and circular economy that ends plastic waste and addresses climate change. We’ve set a goal to reuse, recycle or recover all plastic packaging in the U.S. by 2040, and we look forward to collaborating on workable, constructive solutions, such as by developing a national recycling strategy to standardize and expand local programs, supporting development of recycling education and infrastructure through material-neutral packaging fees, accelerating advanced recycling, and developing recycled content goals for packaging and products.