Circular Economy for Plastics Essential to a More Sustainable Future
Matthew Kastner
Senate Hearing on the Circular Economy Highlights Need for Congress and Business to Work Together for a Sustainable Future
WASHINGTON (September 22, 2021) – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is grateful the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing today titled “The Circular Economy as a Concept for Creating a More Sustainable Future.”
ACC supports Congress taking action to foster a circular economy for plastics and other materials. America’s plastic makers have proposed 5 Actions for Sustainable Change that will jumpstart the circular economy and we have asked Congress to help make it possible by:
- Requiring all plastic packaging to contain 30 percent recycled plastic by 2030;
- Creating a modern regulatory system to scale advanced recycling while growing mechanical recycling;
- Developing national recycling standards for plastics;
- Studying the greenhouse gas emissions from all materials to guide informed policy; and,
- Establishing an American-designed producer responsibility system to help increase recycling access, collection, and outreach for all materials.
The plastics industry is taking meaningful action to reduce plastic waste and reuse plastic materials to make the circular economy a reality. We are asking to be held accountable by publicly setting aggressive minimum requirements for recycled plastic in packaging by 2030. But we need Congress to lay the groundwork with smart policy that will enable innovation to scale up and make the circular economy possible.
ACC submitted a statement for the record to the Senate Committee and remains committed to working collaboratively with Congress to facilitate a circular economy and a more sustainable future.
