Plastic industry pushes for recycling as a solution to pollution crisis

The petrochemical industry claims to support a global treaty to curb plastic pollution but emphasizes recycling over production caps.

Joseph Winters reports for Grist.


In short:

  • Industry groups are promoting recycling targets and waste collection improvements as alternatives to capping plastic production.
  • These proposals could cut global plastic pollution by 36% by 2050, but without a production cap, it's harder to achieve significant reductions.
  • Industry influence over treaty negotiations is increasing, with substantial lobbying at recent sessions.

Key quote:

“Whether the treaty includes plastic production cuts is not just a policy debate. It’s a matter of survival.”

— Jorge Emmanuel, adjunct professor at Silliman University in the Philippines.

Why this matters:

Recycling initiatives proposed by the petrochemicals industry while beneficial, are insufficient to tackle plastic pollution. A comprehensive approach, including production caps, is a more effective approach to achieve meaningful health and environmental benefits. For more read the op-ed by Pete Myers: We must determine which uses of plastic remain essential; eliminate those that aren’t; and design new materials to replace still essential plastics.

A small oasis in the middle of the desert

Progress on Africa's 'Great Green Wall' stalls as seedlings die off

New research finds that few of the millions of planted trees in Africa's Great Green Wall survive due to limited rainfall, grazing livestock, and slow disbursement of pledged funds.

An Asian city with haze and pollution in the background

Chinese migrant workers drive Indonesia’s nickel industry for EVs

30,000 Chinese workers travel thousands of miles to remote islands in Eastern Indonesia to process nickel — and put their lives at risk on the frontier of the green energy transition.
white and black cow on green grass field during daytime

Nestlé quits global alliance on reducing dairy methane emissions

Food group Nestlé says it has withdrawn from a global alliance for cutting methane emissions that aims to reduce the impact of dairy farming on global warming.

landscape photography of grass field with windmills under orange sunset

States rush to support clean energy as Trump retreats from renewables

As the Trump administration slashes federal support for renewable energy, states like Massachusetts are expanding their own clean energy programs to fill the policy gap — investing billions in solar, battery storage, and grid modernization to curb emissions and stabilize energy costs.

An abstract illustration of a 3d space with pink and blue shapes

What will the AI data center boom mean for Canada?

Sprawling AI data centers, hungry for land, water and power, are coming. Plans for the world’s largest, called Wonder Valley, are underway in a drought-stricken region in Alberta.

A person putting a plastic water bottle into a recycling container

Opinion: It’s time we confront the ugly truth about plastic recycling

Recycling doesn’t address any of plastic’s human and environmental impacts. It’s essentially another form of plastic production, one that usually hurts low-income communities.

Rows of solar panel boards on brown ground.

Trump mulls cutting billions in funds from list of clean energy projects

The U.S. government is considering cancelling billions of dollars in funding for clean energy programs, including awards for auto manufacturing and carbon capture, according to a list of targeted projects seen by Reuters.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.