Recently, the U.S. Plastics Pact published its "Questionable and Unnecessary Materials List," which lists 11 packaging-related products and materials that currently "cannot be reused, recycled, or composted on a large scale" in the United States and "are not expected to remain closed loop in practice on a large scale by 2025. These products and materials are currently "not reused, recycled or composted on a large scale" in the U.S. and "are not expected to remain closed loop in practice on a large scale by 2025.
The list includes the following items.
Tableware*
Intentionally added¹ Perfluoro- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)²
Non-detectable pigments, such as carbon black
Opaque or colored PET bottles (except clear blue or green)
Oxidative degradation additives, including oxidative biodegradation additives.
PETG - PET in rigid packaging.
Questionable label construction, including adhesives, inks, materials (PETG, PVC, paper, etc.) Avoid formats/materials/features that make the package harmful or non-recyclable according to APR (Association for Plastics Recycling) design guidelines. Labels should meet APR preferred coverage and compatibility guidelines and be tested in any unclear areas.
PS - Polystyrene, including EPS (expanded polystyrene).
PVC - Polyvinyl chloride, including PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride)
Stirrer*
Straw*
Caution.
* Cutlery, straws and stirrers are considered problematic if they are considered non-reusable, non-recyclable or non-compostable and are provided as an accessory to the primary container. For example, a package of plastic utensils served with a prepared salad or a straw/stirrer served with a to-go beverage would be defined as problematic, while utensils, straws or stirrers sold as a product would not be problematic.
¹ "Intentionally added" to a package or during the manufacture of the package.
² "PFAS" or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are defined as a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one perfluorinated carbon atom at 100 parts per million or more in terms of total organic fluorine.
This is a goal in the organization's 2025 roadmap, which is based on a global framework developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The U.S. Plastics Pact, led by The Recycling Partnership and supported by the World Wildlife Fund. has garnered unanimous support from more than 100 signatories, including Coca-Cola, Unilever, Amcor, Walmart, Mars, Target and others.
Plastics Convention Goals
Make a list of plastic packaging that will be designated as problematic or unnecessary by 2021, and take steps to eliminate it by 2025.
Ensure that all plastic packaging will be 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
Take action to effectively recycle or compost 50% of plastic packaging by 2025.
Ensure an average of 30% recyclable content or responsibly sourced bio-based content in plastic packaging by 2025.
Other Sounds：
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) raised their concerns after the list was released, and for the Plastics Industry Association, the American Plastics Convention is "a well-meaning group of companies and organizations," but "does not reflect the views of the broader plastics industry. In the ACC's estimation "a transparent third-party, data-driven and scientific approach is lacking, and ...... appears to be rooted in ideology and predetermined, misleading results."
PLASTICS: It's the protocol that's the problem
It's much easier to make a list than to endure the unintended consequences of phasing out certain products," said Tony Radoszewski, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, in a prepared statement. Product packaging should be designed with specific functions or applications in mind, even if those functions or applications are not obvious to the end customer. For example, plastic is often the most economical option for producers and consumers, and the most environmentally friendly. Banning the product would lead to the use of alternatives that have a greater environmental impact."
Radoszewski added that the U.S. Plastics Convention is free to decide which materials and products to sell or not sell, or which it considers "problematic," but what PLASTICS finds problematic is that the convention wants to tell others how to run their businesses by limiting their choices.
ACC: Phasing Out Materials Could Hinder Sustainable Development Goals
The ACC believes that eliminating some of these materials by 2025 would be counterproductive to accelerating the circular economy and would actually "slow the move to a low-carbon future and reduce the ability to use more recycled materials in plastic packaging."
In the context of the global supply chain and inflation crisis, consumers are seeking certainty in the global supply chain, not further disruptions, and the proposals put forward by the U.S. Plastics Convention will add to the frustration," said Joshua Baca, vice president of ACC Plastics.
In addition, the convention's proposals could increase food waste, promote the use of many materials with a higher carbon footprint than plastics, and do little to achieve the ambitious sustainability goals of the plastics value chain."
In its response, the ACC noted that the plastics industry was one of the first to set ambitious circularity targets in 2018, requiring 100 percent of plastic packaging to be reused, recycled or reclaimed.
Baca said, "What we want is to work with the convention to leverage our industry's expertise and the extensive work we've done to achieve a circular economy for all materials by expanding the growth of innovative recycling technologies - not promoting a de facto ban on certain types of plastic packaging."
