Hydrte Bottles

  The World Needs Plastics to Live Sustainably; and to Live Sustainably, We Must End Plastic Waste Last week, the Pew Charitable Trusts released a new report, “Breaking the Plastic Wave: A Comprehensive Assessment of Pathways Towards Stopping Ocean Plastic Pollution.” The American Chemistry Council (ACC) welcomed the report and looks forward to working with the report’s authors and sponsors on solutions to help end waste. Plastic waste in the environment, including in our oceans and waterways, is a significant, urgent problem. Yet, importantly, we believe it is solvable. Eliminating plastic waste will require a global transition to a circular economy where plastic material used today is recycled and reused again tomorrow. And building a more circular economy for plastics will require both upstream and downstream solutions. Support for “Breaking the Plastics Wave” In its report, Pew recommends investing to significantly expand our recycling infrastructure globa

  It wasn’t long ago that single use plastics were derided, avoided and even legally banned in many places. Over the last few years, cities and towns outlawed single-use plastic bags for shopping. Plastic straws were banned in the country’s largest state and in small businesses alike. Because we rightly fear pollution and because we saw horrifying pictures of the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” parts of our society acted aggressively. Little girl holding a plastic bag with a globe inside Getty But will another fear—the fear of contagions—reverse the movement against single-use plastics? With the impact of coronavirus, there is suddenly a reconsideration of laws prohibiting disposable plastic bans. People are nervous about what they touch and who touched it last. There is fear of anything that might carry viruses on the surface. There is also a greater need for disposable plastic in protective gear for medical workers and the plastic gloves we see worn in