Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) President & CEO Tony Radoszewski:
“Plastics are consistently in the headlines and we see uninformed and biased viewpoints from people outside of the industry on what they believe should be done to solve the issue. Plastic waste in the U.S. cannot be solved overnight—it will take a collective effort, and we are all in this together. It’s important that plastic products are recycled and reused – not littered. This way we can protect the environment while still enjoying the benefits of plastics.
The current alarmist rhetoric never takes into account the value the material serves or the major efforts the plastics industry has spearheaded to help solve the problems related to the global waste crisis. An article published this week is a typical example. Industry initiatives to improve recycling infrastructure and reduce the number of valuable materials going to landfills such as the Pacific Northwest Secondary Demonstration Project (PNW Sort) was overlooked in favor of a hyperbolic narrative that speculated on potentially harmful aspects of plastic products without any evidence.
Despite the ‘pile-on’ negative narrative being propagated, organizations such as PLASTICS and the plastics industry as a whole will continue to develop more ways to reduce plastic waste and find viable methods of helping our environment.”
About Plastics Industry Association
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), formerly SPI, is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, representing nearly one million workers in the $451 billion U.S. industry. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members and the industry more globally competitive while advancing recycling and sustainability. To learn more about PLASTICS’ education initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, networking opportunities and policy advocacy, and North America’s largest plastics trade show, NPE: The Plastics Show, visit plasticsindustry.org. Connect with PLASTICS on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.