US Plastics Pact report details plans to eliminate ‘problematic’ plastics by 2030

The U.S. Plastics Pact, Pittsburgh, has released an updated report detailing its ongoing, accelerated action to eliminate “problematic and unnecessary materials” from the plastics value chain.

The report comes at a critical time, as the U.S. government recently has shifted its position to support global targets that limit virgin plastic production, aligning with the U.S. Pact’s mission to advance a circular economy.

The organization says the report underscores the urgency and shared responsibility to shift to readily reusable, recyclable or compostable materials to achieve a circular economy. It also provides a path for addressing design challenges such as contaminants, for example, enabling advancements in circular package design, increasing recovery opportunities and enhancing the quality of recycled content.

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Sustainable packaging objectives

The U.S. Pact has prioritized the removal of materials that hinder recyclability and compostability. It adds that this strategic focus aligns with the industry’s goal of reducing plastic packaging’s environmental and human health impacts while enhancing the quality of recycled content available for future packaging needs.

“This report furthers our mission to support our member-Activators in achieving their objectives by providing clear, actionable guidance on eliminating materials that do not align with a circular economy,” U.S. Pact CEO Jonathan Quinn says. “The report also exists to encourage increased engagement and innovation from companies throughout the plastics value chain, in hopes not merely to eliminate materials, but to discover potential new pathways to their circularity.”

While the 11 items on the previous report are expected to be eliminated by 2025, the updated report highlights additional problematic and unnecessary materials to be eliminated or redesigned by 2030 and supports the development of policies that incentivize reuse, recycling and postconsumer recycled (PCR) content in packaging. Key materials identified for elimination include:

• Noncompostable produce stickers: Targeted for elimination by 2030, the organization says these stickers are being replaced by compostable alternatives, aligning with industry efforts to reduce compost contamination and compost more food scrap.
• Multimaterial plastic packaging: The U.S. Pact says innovations in packaging design and modernized manufacturing infrastructure are crucial for phasing out these materials by 2030.
• Degradability additives: The U.S. Pact says these additives have been shown to disrupt recycling and composting processes. Oxo-degradable additives are set for elimination by 2025, and all other degradability additives are set for elimination by 2030.

In addition to the report, U.S. Plastics Pact Activators have developed a new evaluation list of materials identified for future evaluation. Items on the list don’t have a clear path to circularity, the U.S. Pact says, but for a variety of reasons such as impact to carbon footprint of an item or lack of viable alternatives for a necessary material, elimination may not be the appropriate recommendation.

For these materials, the organization says key actions and needs for innovation are identified that will enable circularity if the necessary steps are taken across the value chain. The list brings additional transparency for all stakeholders, providing a line of sight to ongoing focus areas.

“The updated problematic and unnecessary materials report builds upon the original report and will guide the development of truly circular plastic packaging,” Quinn says. “This advances our efforts to create a robust framework for sustainable packaging practices across the nation. Eliminating materials that hinder the recycling or composting stream is a crucial step toward opening pathways to circularity.”

Practical applications, future steps

The U.S. Pact's targets explicitly call for the development of policies at all levels of government that support reuse, recycling, composting and the incorporation of PCR content in packaging. The organization says it also provides effective guidance and resources to assist companies in the transition to more sustainable materials.

By offering practical support and resources, such as design guidelines, technical training and innovation workshops, the organization says it empowers stakeholders to make meaningful changes within their organizations so that eliminating problematic materials is not just aspirational, but achievable. Earlier this month, the U.S. Pact released three reports designed to guide the lifecycle of reusable, recyclable and compostable plastic packaging in the U.S.

As the U.S. Pact continues to drive the transition toward a circular economy, it says its updated report is a testament to the collective efforts of more than 100 businesses, organizations and government agencies.

“With clear, direct communication and a focus on practical application, the U.S. Plastics Pact invites all stakeholders to join these efforts to build a more sustainable future,” the organization says.