The federal government is the world’s largest purchaser of consumer goods, and the measures could “significantly impact the supply” of these ubiquitous plastic products, according to an 83-page report detailing the administration’s plans. The administration also wants to tighten regulations on plastic manufacturers, which are a source of greenhouse gas emissions. The report highlights that more than 90% of plastics are made from fossil fuels.
By leveraging federal purchasing power, the Administration hopes to help reduce air pollution, protect public health, and shift the market to more sustainable plastic alternatives.
“Tackling plastic pollution and its associated impacts will require unprecedented action at every stage of plastics’ life cycle, from curbing pollution from petrochemical production to rebuilding infrastructure to ensure a dramatic increase in recycling and reuse,” Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi wrote in a letter accompanying the report.
The move to reduce plastic use domestically comes as the world grapples with how to address its massive plastic waste problem.
that’s all 460 million tonnes of plastic According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the amount of plastic produced each year is equivalent to the weight of more than 300,000 blue whales. Much of the plastic waste is single-use products that can end up polluting land, waterways and oceans. When this tough material breaks down in the environment, Microplastics Small particles Less than 5 mm Found everywhere Antarctic Snow To The human body.
Each country Establishing the first world treaty To reduce plastic pollution, the EU is actively engaged in negotiations, with the US as a key member. How to reduce plastic production and consumption has been a contentious issue, with a small number of fossil fuel-dependent countries opposing proposed measures to partially limit plastic production.
Following Friday’s announcement, Ross Eisenberg, president of America’s Plastics Manufacturers, a division of the American Chemistry Council, said the industry and the White House agree on wanting to prevent plastic pollution by “creating a system where plastic resources can be reused and reused.” The report noted that the Biden administration is seeking to take measures against plastics that will promote “a more circular economy.”
Among environmental groups, the new report marks a critical acknowledgement of the need to address the problem of plastic pollution.
Anja Brandon, deputy director of U.S. plastics policy at the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy, said the report “makes very clear the severity and urgency of this crisis for our oceans, our climate and our communities.”
“The fact that we’re calling for comprehensive action across the entire plastic lifecycle is a new recognition that we won’t be able to solve this crisis without taking upstream steps to reduce the amount of plastic we make and use in the first place,” Brandon said.
She added that the federal government’s initiative to phase out single-use plastics is a “monumental” step.
“We know that when they put their effort into something, they can really make a difference in the market,” she said.
Christy Levitt, plastics campaign director for the international advocacy group Oceana, largely agreed, saying federal procurement decisions “can have global implications.”
But Biden’s promise comes with a caveat. If the former president Donald Trump Upon returning to the presidency after the November election, his administration Eliminate many environmental and climate regulations.
Some environmental activists followed Friday’s announcement with an emphasis on the need for action and enforcement.
“Commitments are important, but the how matters,” Erin Simon, vice president of plastic waste and operations at the World Wildlife Fund, said in a statement, noting that the new report “provides the strategic analysis needed to reach these goals.”
“I’m encouraged that this report doesn’t shy away from the negative impacts plastics have on human health, but instead analyzes the issue throughout plastic’s entire lifecycle,” Simon said. “Cleanup of global plastic pollution must start at home, and today, under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, the U.S. government is doing just that. The world is watching — now is the time for bold commitments and concrete action on plastics.”
