Plastic

No single solution can solve the global challenge of plastic waste. First, we must recognize that there is immense value in plastics and the ability to reuse or recycle these products. From there, we need to get a recycling system that works.

Given low domestic recycling rates for plastic, the efficacy of recycling is often called into question. But that doesn’t mean recycling doesn’t work. Advanced recycling technologies — as well as traditional mechanical recycling — play a pivotal role in addressing plastic waste and recovering the value in used plastics.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson issued the following statement today in response to reports indicating that the United States is shifting its position on the United Nations’ global agreement to end plastic pollution and will now support calls for plastic production caps and the establishment of a global list of banned chemicals. AFPM has been a participant in the United Nations’ (UN) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process for the past two years:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rob Benedict, AFPM Vice President of Petrochemicals and Midstream, issued the following statement in response to the new government-wide strategy to combat plastic pollution. Paying particular attention to the elimination of single-use plastic, the strategy announces the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) released the following statement on the General Services Administration’s (GSA) final rule calling for the reduction of single-use plastic packaging on federally supplied or purchased products.

Ottawa, Canada — As the fourth session of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to create a global agreement on plastic pollution concluded Monday in Ottawa, AFPM released the following statement.

As AFPM participates in the United Nations negotiations of a global agreement on plastic pollution in Kenya, the association released the following statement addressing criticisms of recycling and calls for production restrictions on polymers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rob Benedict, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Vice President of Petrochemicals & Midstream, today released the following statement on the recently reintroduced Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act.

AFPM welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) efforts in developing a Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, but consistent with comments submitted to the Agency, we urge a revision of their strategy. To prevent plastic pollution, we encourage EPA to embrace policies that enable, not hinder, a circular economy for plastics where we use a range of technologies and strategies to recover post-consumer plastic and transform it back into usable materials.