PEA
On November 21, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, which identified six goals and actions aimed at preventing plastic pollution throughout the entire plastic lifecycle.
Plastic has many uses, but it also has a huge impact on our environment. The National Strategy for Preventing Plastic Pollution proposes a good roadmap to prevent these types of pollution by creating a circular economy and returning these materials to the supply chain for recycling and reuse. This strategy is also consistent with the United States’ commitment to negotiate a major international agreement aimed at protecting public health and the environment by reducing plastic pollution around the world. This strategy is the third pillar of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to build a circular economy for all, following the national strategy of recycling and reducing food loss and waste. As this strategy is gradually implemented, it will bring tremendous benefits to our environment and health.
The measures of the national strategy include:
A. Reduce the production and consumption of disposable plastic products, and enhance the ability of the United States to reuse products.
B. Measure the impact of disposable products on the environment and human health throughout their entire lifecycle.
C. Strengthen public policies and incentive measures to reduce plastic pollution, including collaborating with others to establish a national extended producer responsibility framework.
The urgency of the plastic crisis and global action
According to the “2024 Circular Industry Solutions Report” jointly released by the World Economic Forum and KPMG, the global amount of plastic waste has surged from 156 million tons in 2000 to 353 million tons in 2019, of which about 40% comes from packaging materials, 12% from consumer goods, and 1% from textiles. This exponential growth not only exacerbates environmental pollution, but also gave rise to the Global Plastic Pollution Control Resolution passed by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) in 2022, aiming to pass a legally binding international agreement by 2024. The transition to a circular economy is seen as a critical path, with an expected creation of 100 million job opportunities by 2030. The large-scale promotion of innovative solutions urgently requires multidimensional support from policies, funding, and collaboration.
Dual track system of global standards and local practices
The report points out that 75% of surveyed companies consider policies as the primary driving force for scaling up solutions. The policy framework needs to seek a balance between global unity and regional flexibility:Global standardization of definitions and standards
The definition of plastic directly affects the scope of policy application. For example, the European Union defines seaweed based materials (such as Notpla’s products) as “non plastic”, while other regions may classify them as “alternative plastics”. Global treaties need to clarify core concepts such as “biodegradable” and “recyclable”, and establish testing standards. For example, Givaudan found that the lack of a unified biodegradation testing method led to market confusion when developing biodegradable spice capsules. The establishment of international standards will eliminate technological barriers and accelerate the commercialization of innovative materials.
Deepening of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The French environmental organization Citeo emphasizes that EPR should not be limited to financial support for recycling, but should also cover product design optimization and the construction of reusable systems. For example, ECOCE in Mexico has increased the PET recycling rate to 70% through a deposit system for beverage bottles, and its success relies on the EPR mechanism mandated by the government to collaborate with the industry. The global treaty needs to clarify the scope of application of EPR to ensure that funds flow towards infrastructure and technological innovation.
The combination of bans and incentive measures
The microplastic treatment technology of Norwegian company Pinovo proves that local bans on specific sources of pollution, such as paint peeling, can have immediate effects. The promotion of 3M’s paper-based cushioning materials relies on consumers’ increased awareness of plastic packaging alternatives. Policies need to form a closed loop of “restricting harmful products and encouraging substitutes” through tax levers (such as plastic taxes), research and development subsidies, and public procurement tilt.
EPA Plastic Prevention and Control Objectives
Goal A: Reduce pollution caused by plastic production.
Actions include: ① Conducting assessments to ensure that fossil fuel extraction and petrochemical and plastic production facilities comply with regulatory requirements. ② Continue to make progress in reviewing and updating fossil fuel extraction, petrochemical and plastic production facilities, as well as regulating the transportation of plastic pellets and plastic additives, as appropriate Explore the establishment of a voluntary certification system to identify plastic products produced under strict environmental standards Identify and reduce the impact of fossil fuel extraction, petrochemical, and plastic production facilities on the environment and public health.
Goal B: Innovate materials and product design.
Actions include: ① Identifying alternative materials, products, or systems to minimize their impact on human health and the environment. ② Review, develop, update, and use sustainability standards, eco labels, certifications, and design guidelines to minimize the negative impact of plastic products on human health and the environment throughout their entire lifecycle.
Goal C: Reduce waste generation.
Actions include: ① reducing the production and consumption of disposable plastic products. ② Improve the effectiveness of existing public policies and incentives to reduce waste generation Develop or expand the ability to reuse materials Enhance public awareness of the impact of plastic pollution (including its effects on waterways and oceans) and the management of plastics and other substances.
Goal D: Improve waste management.
Actions include: ① exploring the possibility of approving the Basel Convention and encouraging the harmless management of waste and recyclable materials generated from trade with other countries. ② Support state, local, tribal, and regional governments in their efforts to improve waste management to avoid adverse impacts on human health and the environment Develop a national framework for expanding producer responsibility (EPR) Promote the certification of compost products and improve usage efficiency.
Goal E: Improve the capture and removal of plastic pollution.
Actions include: ① Identifying and implementing policies and plans to effectively remove plastic and other substances from the environment, including waterways and oceans. ② Improve water resource management to increase the capture and removal of plastics and other substances from waterways, oceans, and rainwater/wastewater systems.
Goal F: Minimize the load and impact on waterways and oceans as much as possible.
Actions include: ① Increasing and improving the measurement of plastic and other material loads in waterways and oceans to provide information for management interventions. ② Strengthen and coordinate research on determining the quantity, impact, and mitigation methods of micro/nano plastics Strengthen and coordinate research on the migration, degradation, and impact of large plastics in waterways and oceans.
