No matter who wins the U.S. presidential election, you can expect one thing: plastics and sustainability will remain in the public policy spotlight.
Issues related to resin production, marine debris and plastic packaging are not limited by which party controls the White House. States are adding legislation and bans on products such as plastic bags, expanded polystyrene containers and packaging without recycled content. Global initiatives such as the United Nations' plastics treaty — headed toward its final round of negotiations later this month in South Korea — will likely affect business decisions on where and when to build petrochemical plants. Brand owners are facing increased calls to reduce plastics exposure.
As Plastics News' Steve Toloken writes, insurance companies and lawsuits may force companies' hands when it comes to PFAS issues. Matthew Von Hendy said at a recent SPE event that consumer demand for PFAS-free products, along with lawsuits against companies, will fill a current gap on federal regulations.
And Mike Bonsignore, chief sustainability officer for CKS Packaging, says the insurance industry is going to drive changes by choosing not to work with companies with PFAS exposure.
Beyond that, individual consumers are becoming more aware of sustainability questions when it comes to plastics. PN Editor Don Loepp writes in the viewpoint for the Nov. 4 print issue of PN of seeing stories in mainstream media questioning everything from the recyclability of plastic water bottles to plastic kitchen utensils.
Just this weekend, for another example, I received the latest issue of Swimmer, a magazine for the organization U.S. Masters Swimming, with an article titled "The Hidden Dangers of Microplastics," tucked in between stories on how to improve your butterfly and breaststroke techniques.
So while the experts say we may not get final election results for a few days, we can rely on further discussion on plastics and sustainability.
