Plastics industry lashes out at Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, Greenpeace criticizes “desperate” attempts to derail the legislation

29 Mar 2021 --- Key players in the plastics industry are coming together to voice concerns over the impending Break Free from Plastic Pollution (BFFPP) Act in the US, which they fear will damage job security and derail recycling efforts. 

The Act has targets to phase out throwaway plastics made from fossil fuel, hold the plastic industry responsible for its waste, and pause construction on any new plastic-making plants.

Joshua Baca, vice president of plastics at the American Chemistry Council (ACC), discusses potential causes for concern with PackagingInsights. 

“The BFFPP Act would both stall efforts to address plastic waste in the environment and limit the essential role plastic plays in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.” 

“It would put in place harmful policies that restrict the production of a highly efficient and critical material that helps avoid GHG emissions and contributes so much to sustainable living.”

Proponents hope the new US government will have the momentum to uphold the bill after it was previously shelved under the Trump administration. It is hailed as the “most comprehensive piece of federal legislation” on plastic waste ever introduced in the US. 

Opponents to the Act include business and academic leaders who have convened to highlight why they believe the act is a threat to global environmental sustainability efforts. 

Participants, including Dow, the ACC, Brightmark, Agilyx and Sealed Air, are urging Congress to reject the bill. 

The importance of packaging weight
Baca points to numerous research projects showing plastics to have the most sustainable life cycle compared to other materials. This is mainly due to its lightweight and shelf life-extending properties, reducing GHGs associated with transport and food waste. 

The ACC maintains plastic is essential in reducing global carbon emissions.“Alternatives to plastic packaging and products produce on average twice the level of GHG emissions throughout their production and use. Switching from plastic packaging to alternatives would increase the amount of packaging generated in the US annually by 55 million tons and increase related GHG emissions by 130 percent, according to ACC-funded research.”

According to an Imperial College Study, replacing all plastic bottles globally with glass would increase carbon emissions by the equivalent of 22 large coal-fired power plants.

The carbon concerns extend beyond packaging: lightweight plastic auto parts reduce the weight of cars, improving gas mileage and reducing GHGs. “Replacing steel components with plastic has been essential to achieving greater fuel efficiency,” asserts Baca. 

“Foam insulation made with plastic also helps save more energy in our homes than many alternatives, which reduces GHG and saves money.”

Reuse, recycle and recover 
Rather than attempting to eliminate the use of plastics, Baca says the US plastics industry should be aided in its plans to tackle waste and pollution while maintaining plastics’ environmental benefits. 

“We need plastics to live sustainably, and we need to end plastic waste,” stresses Baca. “America’s plastics makers are focused on redesigning packaging, modernizing recycling, using advanced technologies to capture and reuse more plastic, and keeping plastics where they belong – out of the environment and used as resources to make new materials.”

“We’ve set a goal to reuse, recycle or recover all plastic packaging in the US 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.” 

A central part of this plan relies on advanced or chemical recycling, which can recycle many of the plastics unsuitable for conventional mechanical recycling streams. 

Industry “desperation”
John Hocevar, director of Greenpeace Oceans USA, tells PackagingInsights he believes the bill will eventually triumph. 

“I am optimistic the groundswell of support for the BFFPP Act will be strong enough that it will be passed without being watered down. But if the ACC were to be successful in derailing it, I think that would end up being a pyrrhic victory. The next bill will almost certainly be stronger than this one.”Greenpeace is looking toward a global treaty on eliminating plastics.

Hocevar also says the ACC’s arguments are made out of “frantic desperation,” and hold no weight in reality.

“The ACC claims that plastic’s lightweight properties somehow make it a climate solution. The problem is that plastic is made from fossil fuels and is helping drive new extraction the climate cannot afford.” 

Most plastic is never recycled, and as it is burned or degrades, it gives off GHGs, he notes. 

“On top of that, all of this unrecyclable plastic waste is overwhelming our ability to recycle other materials, which also has climate implications. We need to be able to recycle glass, paper and aluminum efficiently, and sorting out and removing all this unrecyclable plastic from recycling systems is hindering that.”

Time for a global treaty? 
Hocevar says the next step after the BFFPP will be to work for a global agreement on reducing plastics. 

“In February 2022, the UN will almost certainly agree to begin negotiating a global plastic treaty,” he asserts. 

“Governments and corporations know change is needed and it is coming with or without their support. So the question now is whether companies show leadership and get to work on preparing for the future, or whether they lose out to competitors who do.”

He says players in the plastics industry should now be focusing on how they will save jobs in their workforce. 

“This is the time to ensure there will be a just transition for workers and not pretend we are all going to still want throwaway plastic bottles, forks, straws and containers ten years from now.”

By Louis Gore-Langton