To minimize plastic waste and pollution, the United States should reject blanket bans and instead address root causes through innovation and the development of a circular plastics economy.
Most Americans have concerns about the pollution and waste associated with plastic use, most notably single-use plastics like water bottles. However, calls to restrict plastic production and consumption would likely backfire, resulting in higher consumer costs and worse environmental outcomes. Instead, addressing the root cause of plastic pollution and driving innovation will maximize plastic’s value while shrinking its environmental footprint.
From everyday conveniences to life-saving technologies, plastics are omnipresent in our lives. Every sector uses plastics as a building block for its products because they are lightweight, malleable, affordable, and durable. Plastics help extend the shelf life of groceries, help our cars run efficiently, and provide much-needed durability for our phones and laptops. They make homes and offices more energy efficient, saving money and reducing emissions.
Moreover, plastics’ properties make them ideal for medical applications, such as components in life-saving medical devices like pacemakers and incubators. Medical-grade plastics are heat, moisture, and chemical-resistant, making them highly reliable during repeated sterilization.
Because plastics are essential and ubiquitous in the economy, global demand is projected to rise significantly. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) projects that plastic consumption could more than double by 2060. Much of the growth will come from emerging economies where the consumption of everything will rise. Given the inevitable increase in plastic use and the environmental challenges that plastic pollution poses, it is critical that policymakers pursue evidence-based policies that will reduce plastic waste and emissions associated with plastic production—while supporting the development of a circular plastics economy.
U.S. Strengths in Plastics Production
First, it is essential to recognize America’s economic and environmental advantages in energy, petrochemicals, and plastics production. Dependable, affordable natural gas has unlocked economic opportunity and made the United States a more attractive place to invest in. Natural gas is a valuable feedstock for the building blocks of plastic. In the chemical industry alone, the single largest natural gas consumer, investments linked to America’s natural gas boom have surpassed $200 billion. U.S. ethane and ethane-based petrochemical exports are at an all-time high, growing 135 percent in the last decade.
Notably, American production of these fuels and chemicals is cleaner than most. According to a recent report from the Climate Leadership Council, the United States is over twice as carbon-efficient as the global average and four times more efficient than China. The United States also has an environmental advantage in petrochemicals and plastics production. Overburdensome regulations and shuttering opportunities for fuel production will likely have adverse environmental impacts as production shifts to far less eco-friendly countries like China.
Addressing Global Mismanagement
Secondly, the key to addressing plastic pollution is to address the root of the problem. According to the R Street Institute, non-OECD countries have the highest rates of plastic mismanagement. The Philippines, India, and Malaysia combined are responsible for one-fifth of all plastic pollution in the ocean. In fact, of the top ten rivers that emit plastics into the ocean, seven are in the Philippines, two are in India, and one is in Malaysia. Focusing on the few large emitters and polluters would be much more environmentally impactful than futile policies like banning plastic straws or outright banning plastic.
As we emphasize in the report Free Economies are Clean Economies, economic growth paired with legally protected private property rights will help mitigate plastic pollution. Many of these countries have weak property rights and rule of law and do not have the means to implement effective waste management and recycling. On the other hand, well-defined and legally protected property rights incentivize environmental stewardship.
Freer economies are also hubs of innovation, which can significantly reduce plastic waste and develop cost-effective alternatives. For instance, innovative, advanced recycling technologies like pyrolysis chemically decompose plastics into their basic building blocks to be remanufactured into new plastic products. If economically viable and able to move through a predictable, efficient permitting process, these plants could help create a more circular plastics economy. States and local jurisdictions should update outdated and inconsistent recycling systems, rules, and practices to incentivize higher recycling rates and usher in new technologies.
Advancing Alternatives
Further, plastics made from alternative raw materials like plants can achieve significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional plastics made from fossil fuels. The University of Washington researchers have created a biodegradable bioplastic from the blue-green algae spirulina that would be compostable in a family’s backyard. Biodegradable plastics cost around 20 to 30 percent more than traditional plastics, ranging from $2 to $7 per kilogram. The higher price tag is due to natural raw materials and complex manufacturing methods. However, as production scales up, their cost is expected to level.
Scientists at the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne crafted a method for making high-performance plastics from agricultural leftovers. The approach leverages a sugar core sourced from agricultural waste. Australian scientists have developed a plastic-eating mold that could help plastics degrade, decompose, and process thousands of tons annually.
Similarly, public-private initiatives like the U.S. Plastics Pact (USPP), led by The Recycling Partnership and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on behalf of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, are working towards building a circular plastics economy nationwide. The Pact was launched in August 2020 to make 100 percent plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. In December, USPP released its annual impact report, showing that half of all packaging is now sustainable, up from 36 percent in 2021.
The question is not whether to ban plastics and curtail manufacturing in the United States but how to address the root causes of the environmental challenges at hand. Policies that embrace consumer choice and advance innovation driven by the private sector will ensure that families have access to the products that make their lives easier, healthier, and happier—while minimizing plastic pollution and waste and advancing a circular plastics economy.
Nick Loris is the Vice President of Public Policy at C3 Solutions. He writes and regularly testifies before Congress on energy, climate, and environmental issues.
Nathalie Voit is a journalist based in Switzerland. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Literary Studies at the University of Zurich.
Image: MikeDotta/Shutterstock
