Instead of doubling down on pledges to clean up their act, the brands responsible for producing this waste global According to the report, there were five main reasons why plastic recycling is a "failed concept. Nick Dixon, Toby Young and Will Jones Talk About Hunter Bidens Laptop, Kanye Praising Hitler and Englands Fast-Changing Demographics, Nature: Unvaccinated Were Victims of Discrimination During the Pandemic, Source of Americas Lockdown Rules Identified and Twitters Chief Censor Works For It, Incredibly High Excess Deaths Must Be Investigated, Says Australias Top Actuary Body. The System is Broken. or. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. Please give what you can. If these companies truly cared about the environment, they would end these alliances and move away from single-use plastics immediately.. It must also ban plastic waste exports, set a moratorium on new incinerators and finally implement a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and new Extended Producer Responsibility requirements. Not only do these companies have the resources to reimagine their stores with refill and reuse systems, they can use their buying power to pressure consumer goods companies like Nestl, Coca-Cola, and Unilever to act as well. Greenpeace USA Global Plastics Project Leader Graham Forbes said: The same well-known brands that are driving the plastic pollution crisis are helping to fuel the climate crisis. Only about 5% of plastic waste gets recycled in US, new report says, Ocean study shows most deep-water microbes are almost inactive, Using plant-derived nanothylakoid units to induce anabolism in mammals to reduce disease progression, Best of Last Year: The top Phys.org articles of 2022, Near-infrared polarized light observations of three known interacting twin-disk systems, Tidal disruption event J150052 was caused by a rapidly spinning intermediate-mass black hole, study finds, Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox. This stops now and Congress must reject any of the oil and gas handouts that Manchin tries to force into the NDAA., Contact: Tyler Kruse, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [emailprotected], 808-741-2791. The new report analyzed plastic generation, use, and recycling in the U.S., and found that in 2021, U.S. households produced about 51 million tons of plastic waste in 2021. The results send a clear and urgent message: recycling is not enough we are producing far too much plastic packaging waste to deal with so we must turn off the plastic tap. Washington D.C. Greenpeace Inc. 12 million tonnes of plastic waste pours into our oceans each year. The content is provided for information purposes only. Tyler Kruse is a senior communications specialist with Greenpeace USA covering climate and energy. Greenpeace is calling on consumer goods companies to urgently move toward systems of reuse and package-free products. Why is Our World-Beating NHS Such a Basket Case? The findings build on a 2020 report by Greenpeace that found that only some PET and HDPE bottles can be legitimately labeled recyclable based on the Federal Trade Commissions green guide to environmental marketing. This years report will serve as a baseline for what Greenpeace expects will be significant reforms in the near future. 284934). Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. The government must set legally binding targets to almost entirely eliminate single-use plastic, starting with a target of a 50% cut in single-use plastic by 2025. Retailers must develop comprehensive public policies to eliminate single-use plastics, and remain transparent with customers as they implement those plans.. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa. Banning single-use plastic grocery bags hasadded carbon dioxideto the atmosphere by forcing shoppers to use heavier paper bags and tote bags that require much more energy to manufacture and transport, John says. Of that, only about 2.4 million tons were recycled. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) A new Greenpeace report estimates that only 5% to 6% of U.S. plastics are being recycled. Kroger was the only top-five retailer to commit to ban single-use plastic checkout bags and has joined Loop a new refill and reuse initiative, but the company has not yet released a comprehensive plastics reduction plan. Tell Coca-Cola, Nestle and Unilever to phase out single use plastic, today! He goes on to state that the strategy is to say, you cant ban plastics, because heres why, comparing this to tactics used to undermine action on climate change. Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban. Its not enough for a retailer to eliminate plastic straws or make small changes to produce bags and walk away from this issue, said Pinsky. The study found that in 2021, out of 51 million tons of plastic waste generated by U.S. households, only 2.4 million tons were recycled, or about 5 percent. She named Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever and Nestle as prime offenders. Sprouts rounds out the top five, as the retailer is actively engaging suppliers and experts to develop a more comprehensive strategy on single-use plastics. The state of plastic recycling in the US is so abysmal that no plastic packaging can even be considered recyclable, according to a new report published today ", First, plastic waste is generated in vast quantities and is extremely difficult to collect as becomes clear during what the report called ineffective "volunteer cleanup stunts" funded by nonprofits such as "Keep America Beautiful.". All Rights Reserved, By submitting your email, you agree to our. Companies are urged to support an ambitious global plastics treaty that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastic and emphasizes reduction. Visit Greenpeace Fund, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable entity created to increase public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through research, the media and educational programs. In fact, new data shows that the oil and gas industry has spent an estimated average of $4.3 million per Senate seat and $490,000 per House seat supporting their back-pocket candidates. The group has issued a report accompanied by a press release headlined, Plastic Recycling Is A Dead-End Street Year After Year, Plastic Recycling Declines Even as Plastic Waste Increases.. For high-density polyethylene (HDPE) commonly made into milk jugs, shampoo, and detergent bottles capacity falls to just 10.3 percent. Big Oil doesnt want the public to know that efforts to reduce emissions without phasing out oil and gas production are not enough to keep our planet livable. 702 H Street, NW, STE 300, Washington, D.C. 20001 | 1-800-722-6995. Meanwhile, plastic These are numbered "1" and "2" according to a standardized system in which there are seven plastic types. Why demonise plastic, he asks. part may be reproduced without the written permission. Washington DC (Dec. 9, 2022)In response to the House Oversight Committees report and release of documents showing repeated attempts by Big Oil to mislead the public on its role in the climate crisis, Anusha Narayanan, climate campaign director at Greenpeace USA, said: For the oil and gas industry, delay and distraction are the new denial. Most plastic simply cannot be recycled, a new Greenpeace USA report concludes. Greenpeace supporters have challenged Coca Cola to use less plastic, while countries like Trader Joes finished fourth in the ranking, as it has begun to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging from its stores nationwide. WebHowever, this take distorts the findings of the study Greenpeace cites. Walmart, Hy-Vee, Target, Costco, and Wegmans finished in the top 10, but all have a long way to go toward implementing comprehensive plans to address throwaway plastics. Thred Media - Sofia Phillips 6h. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestl, Mondelz, Danone, Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Procter & Gamble and Mars all buy packaging from manufacturers supplied with plastic resin or petrochemicals by well-known companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron Phillips, Ineos and Dow. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy The shocking results Medical research advances and health news, The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances, The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web. 702 H Street, NW, STE 300, Washington, D.C. 20001 | 1-800-722-6995, recent story aired by Channel 4 news in the UK, https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/reports/the-climate-emergency-unpacked/. After the tobacco hearings, lawmakers were able to craft legislation with a clear understanding of the health risks of tobacco. Some countries are leading the way, including India, which recently banned 19 single-use plastic items. Yet, Senator Manchin and other oil-backed politicians continue to try to force handouts to these same companies that show no remorse for the millions of deaths they cause every year. Households in the US tossed out 51 million tons of plastic waste in 2021, says the new report. To date, more than 4 million people around the world have demanded that corporations take action to end the plastic pollution crisis by signing Greenpeaces International petition . Capucine Dayen, Greenpeace USA Global Comms Lead for Plastics: +33 647 971 819, capucine.dayen@greenpeace.org After peaking in 2014 at 10 percent, the trend has been decreasing, especially since China stopped accepting the West's plastic waste in 2018. This is the same timeframe that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned human caused emissions must fall by nearly 50 percent to limit warming to 1.5. 702 H Street, NW, STE 300, Washington, D.C. 20001 | 1-800-722-6995, House Oversight Committees report and release of documents, As Investigations Into Big Oil Continues, Manchin And Schumer Try To Push A Dirty Permitting Deal, New Data: Oil and Gas Industry Has Spent an Average of $4.3 Million per Senate Seat and $490,000 per House Seat, In the Dark: How Social Media Companies' Climate Disinformation Problem is Hidden from the Public. It proposes finally to end the age of plastic by phasing out single-use plastics through a Global Plastics Treaty. This is a preposterous goal imagine phasing out disposable syringes and would be laughable except that environmentalists have already made some progress toward it. Virgin productionof non-recycled plastic, that ismeanwhile is rapidly rising as the petrochemical industry expands, lowering costs. And again just because people have access to PET and HDPE recycling facilities doesnt mean that those products are actually getting recycled. Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. The 40-page report is an update from a 2020 survey. Thats a far cry from how much plastic is actually being rehashed in the US even when looking specifically at the two most commonly recycled types of plastics the ones used in beverage bottles and containers for common household goods. WebPeople around the world have come together to end plastic pollution, and its working. To read the entire report, please visit the following link: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/reports/the-climate-emergency-unpacked/, Katie Nelson, Senior Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA: +1 (678) 644-1681, [emailprotected]. gadgets made with recycled materials typically need to be reinforced with new plastics, Recycled plastic wont solve techs waste problem, SpaceX almost doubles its current Starlink prices in Ukraine, Heres what we know about Elon Musks Neuralink event, SpaceX accused of age discrimination by former employee. You dont have to leave your phone number, but if you do, well use it to keep you updated on how you can get involved through petitions, campaigning, volunteering and donating. A new report from Greenpeace found that people may be putting plastic into recycling bins but almost none of it is actually being recycled. Youll need to set up an account to comment if you dont already have one. This is because recycling facilities for these types aren't available to a "substantial majority" of the population, defined as 60 percent, and because the collected products are not being used in the manufacturing or assembly of new items. Consumer goods companies have also partnered with fossil fuel companies for decades to promote plastic recycling despite its failures. Ivecalculatedthat to offset the greenhouse impact of one passengers round-trip transatlantic flight, youd have to recycle 40,000 plastic bottles and if you used hot water to rinse those bottles, the net effect could bemorecarbon in the atmosphere. Now Greenpeace has seen the light, or at least a glimmer of rationality. Aldi and Sainsburys have committed to halving their plastic footprint by 2025. In a recent story aired by Channel 4 news in the UK, an Exxon lobbyist is recorded stating that every aspect of plastics is a huge business, noting that it is going to grow. The lobbyist also calls plastics the future at a time when communities around the world are fighting back against single-use plastic pollution and demanding reductions in its use. To read the fullPackaging Away the Planetreport, please visit:https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/packaging-away-the-planet.pdf, For a scorecard of how the 20 retailers ranked, please visit:https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-supermarket-plastics-scorecard.png, Contact: Perry Wheeler, Greenpeace Senior Communications Specialist, P: 301-675-8766. February 18, 2020. The state of plastic recycling in the US is so abysmal that no plastic packaging can even be considered recyclable, according to a new report published today by environmental group Greenpeace. Households in the US tossed out 51 million tons of plastic waste in 2021, says the new report. Your feedback is important to us. However, Greenpeaces PET and HDPE bottle recycling rates differ significantly from those reported in the 2020 U.S. Post-consumer Plastic Recycling Data Austria has set reuse targets of 25 percent by 2025 and at least 30 percent by 2030 for beverage packaging, while Portugal has also set the 30 percent by 2030 goal. Calling mechanical and chemical recycling of plastic waste a failure, the report says "it will always fail because plastic waste is: (1) extremely difficult to collect, (2) virtually impossible to sort for recycling, (3) Released this morning (17 May) the report, called Trashed, detailed findings from a Greenpeace UK investigation in Washington, DC, September 14, 2021 A report released by Greenpeace USA today reveals how consumer goods companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl We ask for a minimum donation of 5 if you'd like to make a comment or post in our Forums. Much of this drop off has to do with the fact that China stopped accepting Virtually allthe consumer plastics polluting the worlds oceans comes frommismanaged wastein developing countries. The group hasissueda report accompanied by a press release headlined, Plastic Recycling Is A Dead-End Street Year After Year, Plastic Recycling Declines Even as Plastic Waste Increases. The groups overall policy remains delusional the report proposes a far more harmful alternative to recycling but its nonetheless encouraging to see environmentalists put aside their obsessions long enough to contemplate reality. A new Greenpeace report calls plastic recycling a myth based on the low amount of material that gets recycled. Fourth, recycled plastic carries toxicity risks through contamination with other plastic types in collection bins, preventing it from becoming food-grade material again. The report, Circular Claims Fall Flat Again, is an update of a 2020 report that looked at the types of plastic accepted by material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the U.S. and Over one week in May, nearly a quarter of a million people counted their plastic waste to contribute to this first of its kind citizen science investigation. It can start by banning exports to other countries, including to members of the OECD, to end You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. Greenpeace Environmental Trust (Charity No. Psychology Goes into Meltdown Over Racism Accusations, How the Obsession With Antibodies Has Failed Us, New OpenAI Chatbot Displays Clear Political Bias, Pfizer Was Judged to Have Misled the Public Over the Covid Vaccine But Faces a Derisory Fine. WebTake action on plastic. The rest is exported to other countries to deal with (17%), buried in landfill (25%) or burnt in incinerators (45%). This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. ALDI, Kroger, and Albertsons Companies scored the highest in this years assessment, while Meijer, Wakefern, and H-E-B were the worst. The US, one of the worlds biggest plastic polluters, has struggled to figure out what to do with its plastic waste since a monumental shift in 2018. "This isn't actually a new conceptit's how the milkman used to be, it's how Coca-Cola used to get its beverages to people. The state of plastic recycling in the US is so abysmal that no plastic packaging can even be considered recyclable, according to a new report published today by environmental group Greenpeace. While finally admitting the futility of plastic recycling, Greenpeace is making no apologies for the long campaign to foist it on the public, and the group is unashamedly pushing a new strategy thats even worse. It proposes finally to end the age of plastic by phasing out single-use plastics through a Global Plastics Treaty. The environmental price has also been high because the plastic in American recycling bins has gone to developing countries with primitive waste-handling systems. Greenpeace released a report on Sept. 16, 2020, Deception by the Numbers, which examines 52 projects touted by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) as chemical or advanced recycling.Greenpeaces findings say that many of these projects are either not viable or misleadingly promoted as recycling when they With company plastic packaging pledges popping up all over the shop since Blue Planet 2, we wanted to cut through the confusion by ranking UK supermarkets in a plastic league table. Greenpeace report sparks plastic export concerns. "By doing that, they have shirked all responsibility" for ensuring that recycling actually works, she added. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. A new report by the environmental nonprofit Greenpeace released on Monday finds that the vast majority of plastic waste produced by U.S. households is not recycled. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. Just 9 percent of all the worlds plastic waste had ever been recycled as of 2015, a 2017 study published in the journal Science Advances found. With so little of the waste recycled, no type of plastic used in the US meets an industry-backed standard for whats considered recyclable, says Greenpeace. Here we go again. This must now happen with the oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, Manchin and Schumer are trying to push through a Dirty Deal that benefits the same industry. And because plastic degrades each time its rehashed, even gadgets made with recycled materials typically need to be reinforced with new plastics generating ever more plastic waste. While finally admitting the futility of plastic recycling, Greenpeace is making no apologies for the long campaign to foist it on the public, and the group is unashamedly pushing a new strategy thats even worse. Plastic types "3" through "7"including children's toys, plastic bags, produce wrappings, yogurt and margarine tubs, coffee cups and to-go food containerswere reprocessed at rates of less than five percent. Click here to sign in with Despite often carrying the recycling symbol on their labels, products that use plastic types "3" through "7" fail to meet the Federal Trade Commission classification of recyclable. Without transparency around these relationships, consumer goods companies are largely able to avoid accountability for environmental or human rights violations committed by the companies that supply plastic for their packaging. Washington, DC A Greenpeace report released today, Packaging Away the Planet, ranks 20 of the largest U.S. grocery retailers for the first time on their efforts to Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. The first is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is commonly used in water and soda bottles; and the second is high density polyethylene (HDPE), seen in milk jugs, shampoo bottles and cleaning product containers. Weve known for years that plastic recycling rates are low, but theyve managed to get even worse. Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Plastic recycling rates are declining even as production shoots up, according to a Greenpeace U.S. report out Monday that blasted industry claims of creating an efficient, circular economy as "fiction." While the plastics supply chain is largely opaque, the report identified supply chain relationships between the nine major consumer goods companies researched and at least one major fossil fuel and/or petrochemical company. A shocking new report warns weve wasted decades and billions of dollars promoting recycling as the solution to plastic waste when in actual fact, . The analysis declares that mechanical and chemical You can opt out at any time. Greenpeace analyzed the US roughly 370 material recovery facilities to conduct its surveys. The paper and cotton bags also take up more space in landfills and produce more greenhouse emissions as they decompose. Chile is moving to phase out single-use cutlery and mandating refillable bottles. "Industry groups and big corporations have been pushing for recycling as a solution," Greenpeace U.S. campaigner Lisa Ramsden told AFP. Last year, the organization released the 10th edition ofCarting Away the Oceans, which similarly ranked retailers on sustainable seafood efforts. Greenpeace USA Global Plastics Project Leader According to Greenpeace U.S.'s survey, only two types of plastic are widely accepted at the nation's 375 material recovery facilities. They would drink their beverage, give the glass bottle back, and it would be sanitized and reused," she said. This projected growth would increase global emissions from the plastic life cycle by over 50 percent on 2019 levels by 2030, equivalent to nearly 300 coal-fired power plants. Almost a quarter of a million participants threw away 6.4 million pieces of packaging waste in just one week, yet only 12% is likely recycled. Washington, DC, September 14, 2021 A report released by Greenpeace USA today reveals how consumer goods companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl are driving the expansion of plastic production and threatening the global climate and communities around the world. Increasing ambition on reusable packing and refill stations in-store is vital to reducing throwaway plastic. Washington DC (Dec. 9, 2022) In response to the House Oversight Committees report and release of documents showing repeated attempts by Big Oil to mislead the Ramsden called on corporations to support a Global Plastics Treaty, which United Nations members agreed to create in February, and move toward refill and reuse strategies. Greenpeaces report utilized a combination of publicly available information and survey responses to formulate the retailers scores. None of the supermarkets scored above 35 out of 100 this year. 24 October 2022. The House Oversight Committee report shows that Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and BP continue their decades-long campaign of roadblocking true, science-based climate solutions that address the damage they are doing to our health and the destruction of the planet. Circular Claims Fall Flat Again, released today, finds that U.S. This document is subject to copyright. Text and images Greenpeace. Over one week in May, nearly a quarter of a million people counted their plastic waste to contribute to this first of its kind citizen science investigation. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1449240174198-2'); }); Titled "Circular Claims Fall Flat Again," the study found that of 51 million tons of plastic waste generated by US households in 2021, only 2.4 million tons were recycled, or around five percent. Greenpeace is urging the other major supermarkets to do the same. The report notes that only 5 to 6% of plastics were recycled in 2021, down from a high of 9.5% in 2014, although that was when plastic waste was being exported to Now Greenpeace has seen the light, or at least a glimmer of rationality. Greenpeace Australia Pacific Submission on the Climate Change Bill 2022 and the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. A Greenpeace USA report released today, Throwing Away the Future: How Companies Still Have It Wrong on Plastic Pollution "Solutions," warns consumers to be skeptical of the so-called solutions announced by multinational corporations to tackle the plastic pollution crisis.These false solutions, such as switching to paper or bioplastics, or Recycling plastic has wasted vast sums on an enterprise that has been harmful to the environment as well as to humanity, says John Tierney in City Journal, and now even Greenpeace has admitted the truth on this. It is clear that many consumer goods companies want to hide their cozy relationships with fossil fuel and petrochemical companies, but this report reveals the extent to which they are working toward common goals that pollute the planet and harm communities worldwide, continued Forbes. "New plastic directly competes with recycled plastic, and it's far cheaper to produce and of higher quality," said the report. The organizations findings build on previous research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that found that the plastic recycling rate in the US had fallen to about 5 percent in 2019. The report states that most types of plastic packaging are economically impractical to recycle and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. With so little of the waste recycled, no type of plastic packaging used in the US meets an industry-backed standard for whats considered recyclable, says Greenpeace. Despite their best efforts to appear climate friendly, companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl are working alongside the fossil fuel industry to expand plastic production, which could lock the world into catastrophic emissions levels and a planet warmed beyond saving.. Why ban products that are cheaper, sturdier, lighter, cleaner, healthier, and better for the environment?. These industries have worked together to oppose legislation that would restrict single-use packaging and advocated for so-called chemical or advanced recycling projects. A recent Greenpeace USA report about the state of plastic recycling in the United States shocked many residents. But then, making life more pleasant for humans has never been high on the green agenda. For a type of plastic to be considered recyclable in practice and at scale, it needs to have a recycling rate of 30 percent, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation says. The report found that PET and HDPE products had actual reprocessing rates of 20.9 percent and 10.3 percent, respectivelyboth down slightly from Greenpeace U.S.'s last survey in 2020. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. The only solution to plastic pollution is stopping our reliance on plastic. Without urgent action, plastic production could triple by 2050, according to industry estimates. When Iwrote about ita quarter-century ago, experts were already warning that recycling plastic was hopelessly impractical because it was so complicated and labour-intensive, but municipal officials kept trying in the hope that somebody would eventually find it worthwhile to buy their plastic trash. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no New Greenpeace USA report details how consumer goods giants are fueling Big Oils plastic expansion. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. 1. Plastic has been found in the deepest, most remote parts of the ocean. That guide says companies should only make unqualified claims about their packaging or products being recyclable if 60 percent of their consumers have access to a recycling facility. In New York City, recycling a ton of plastic costs at least six times more than sending it to a landfill, according to a 2020 Manhattan Institutestudy, which estimated that the city could save $340 million annually by sending all its trash to landfills. Theyve found yet another way to harm both the environment and humans, as demonstrated in the movement to ban single-use plastic bags. The question is whether retailers will take responsibility for this mess, and act.. The report, The Climate Emergency Unpacked: How Consumer Goods Companies are Fueling Big Oils Plastic Expansion, exposes the business links between the worlds largest consumer goods and fossil fuel companies and the overall lack of transparency around emissions from plastic packaging. Greenpeace USA just released a new report titled Circular Claims Fall Flat Again, which is an update of a 2020 report. ALDI scored the highest of all retailers because it has a plastic reduction target, a more comprehensive reduction plan, greater transparency, and a commitment to implement refill and reuse systems. But being recyclable in theory doesn't mean products are being recycled in practice. Albertsons scored near the top for its commitment to decrease plastic usage, but the company has not yet set an overall reduction target. In 2022, 60 percent of the US population did have access to municipal collection of PET and HDPE bottles and jugs for recycling, according to Greenpeace. Plastic recycling rates are declining even as production shoots up, according to a Greenpeace USA report out Monday that blasted industry claims of creating an The actual basis of the December 2021 Stina Inc. report commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada was to evaluate the suitability of plastic products and packaging for upcycling into food grade post-consumer resin (PCR). It is known to be the cause of injuries and Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the countrys unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Thered beless plastic polluting the seasif Americans tossed their yogurt containers and water bottles into the trash, so that the plastic could be safely buried at the nearest landfill. Washington, DC A Greenpeace report released today,Packaging Away the Planet,ranks 20 of the largest U.S. grocery retailers for the first time on their efforts to eliminate single-use plastics. Instead, theyve had to pay dearly to get rid of it, typically by shipping it to Asian countries with cheaper labour and looser environmental rules. This week three Congressional committees held hearings investigating Big Oils shady tactics to delay climate action, silence those who protect their communities, and sacrifice lives to grow their profits. Greenpeace evaluated retailers on their policies, plastic reduction efforts, innovation and initiatives, and transparency. Seabirds, whales and turtles have been found with plastic in their tums which can cause death as they cant digest real food properly. WebGreenpeace report shows failure of single-use plastic recycling. Thats when China, where the US previously shipped a majority of its so-called recyclables, decided to stop accepting most plastics. Grocery retailers across the country sell obscene amounts of products in throwaway plastics every single day, yet none of them are acting with the urgency needed to address the pollution crisis theyre causing, said Greenpeace Plastics Campaigner David Pinsky. But that percentage falls to 29 percent for polypropylene commonly used in yogurt containers, 5 percent for plastic cups, and 1 percent for plastic plates. The results of The Big Plastic Count provide a truly unique snapshot of the scale of the countrys plastic crisis. Your information is safe and secure with us read our privacy policy. They aggressively work to silence critics and show zero accountability even to our own government as evidenced by their attempts to obstruct the House Oversight Committees investigation. Concerns over plastic exports have been raised following a report by Greenpeace, which showed plastic waste shipped from the UK to Turkey illegally dumped and burned. Oil and gas executives and other powerful corporate interests want to keep us home by spreading misinformation and contributing to politicians supporting voter suppression efforts. The House Oversight Committee report shows that Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and BP continue their decades-long campaign of roadblocking true, science-based climate solutions. Circular Claims Fall Flat Again, a recent report released by Greenpeace USA, claims that most plastic simply cannot be recycled. Notably, while Whole Foods recently announced a handful of initiatives on plastics, the retailer finished in 11th for its failure to act at the scale needed to tackle the pollution crisis. Recycled plastic bottles. We take the security of your data seriously. The group has issued a report accompanied by a press release headlined, Plastic Recycling Is Companies must phase out all single-use plastics and be more transparent about their plastic footprint, including the climate footprint of their packaging. Washington DC (Dec. 9, 2022) In response to the House Oversight Committees report and release of documents showing repeated attempts by Big Oil to mislead the public on its role in the climate crisis, Anusha Narayanan, climate campaign director at Greenpeace USA, said: For the oil and gas industry, delay and distraction are the new denial. WebPlastic Debris in the Worlds Oceans Solid materials, typically waste, that has found its way to the marine environment is called marine debris. Visit Greenpeace Fund, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable entity created to increase public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through research, the media and educational programs. Read more on thred.com. Greenpeace, Canonbury Villas, London N1 2PN. Plastic pollution is a global problem that has persisted despite decades of marketing aimed at shifting responsibility to consumers through recycling. Big companies such as Apple and Walmart havesigned onto the commitment. Advocacy groups The Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics similarly found that the recycling rate remained at about 5 percent in 2021. Greenpeace estimates that US recycling facilities only have the capacity to process about 20.9 percent of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used to bottle up drinks. October 24, 2022. These fatal flaws have been clear since the start of the recycling movement. This report reveals the results of The Big Plastic Count. We depend on your donations to keep this site going. Visit Greenpeace Fund, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable entity created to increase public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through research, the media and educational programs. And the damage continues. A 27-point assessment of Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube found that all companies fell short on addressing climate disinformation. 2022 Vox Media, LLC. The report, The Climate Emergency Unpacked: How Consumer Goods Companies are Fueling Big Oils Plastic Expansion, exposes the business links between the worlds largest consumer goods and fossil fuel companies and the overall lack of transparency around emissions from plastic packaging. All Rights Reserved. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Greenpeace (2021), The Climate Emergency Unpacked: How Consumer Goods Companies are Fuelling Big Oils Plastics Expansion. Katie Nelson is a Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA. and Terms of Use. A new report from Greenpeace calls plastic recycling a "failed concept" after 30 years of unsuccessful efforts to recycle plastics that left consumers with the idea they are helping prevent trash when most of their efforts end up in the landfill anyway. He writes: Now Greenpeace has seen the light, or at least a glimmer of rationality. Should a Christian be Forced to Design a Website for a Gay Marriage? The fossil fuel and consumer goods industries often work through front groups that advocate for these false solutions, including the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, the Recycling Partnership, and the American Chemistry Council. A Greenpeace USA study found that of 51 million tons of plastic waste generated by US households in 2021, only 2.4 million tons was recycled, around five percent. So back in May we partnered with the Environmental Investigation Agency to survey supermarkets on the full extent of their contribution to our plastic waste Most of the plastic items you are encouraged to wash, sort, and put in blue bins usually end up in landfills or incinerators, if not polluting the Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request. Fifth and finally, the process of recycling is prohibitively expensive. The UK government needs to take urgent action to tackle this plastic crisis. The assessment found that, across the board, U.S. supermarkets are failing to adequately address the plastic pollution crisis they are contributing to. Greenpeace plans to follow up with retailers to assess progress on plastic reduction initiatives, and report those efforts publicly. Second, even if it were all collected, mixed plastic waste cannot be recycled together, and it would be "functionally impossible to sort the trillions of pieces of consumer plastic waste produced each year," the report said. It is clear that they should not be in the room where decisions are being made. Just 2.4 million tons of that plastic was recycled, or just under 5 percent compared to 8.7 percent in 2018. The UK is a major contributor to the worlds plastic crisis, generating more plastic waste per person than any other country except the USA. Our recycling system is already overwhelmed by plastic waste. For this report, they looked at a benchmark set in the Ellen MacArthur FoundationsGlobal Commitment an effort to get organizations around the world to reduce plastic waste. Greenpeace is urging U.S. retailers and consumer goods companies to eliminate single-use consumer plastic, and to invest in reusable, refillable, and package-free approaches. Third, the recycling process itself is environmentally harmful, exposing workers to toxic chemicals and itself generating microplastics. The Environmental Protection Agency has promoted recycling as a way to reduce carbon emissions, but its own figuresshowthat the benefits are relatively small and come almost entirely from recycling paper products and metals, not plastic. Much of itends up illegally dumped, burned (spewing toxic fumes), or reprocessed at rudimentary facilities that leak some of the plastics into rivers. To receive our latest news in the form of a daily email, enter your details here: Please note: To be able to comment on our articles you'll need to be a registered donor. Washington DC, United States A Greenpeace USA report released today, Throwing Away the Future: How Companies Still Have It Wrong on Plastic Pollution / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. The Greenpeace report offers a wealth of statistics and an admirably succinct diagnosis: Mechanical and chemical recycling of plastic waste has largely failed and will always fail because plastic waste is: (1) extremely difficult to collect, (2) virtually impossible to sort for recycling, (3) environmentally harmful to reprocess, (4) often made of and contaminated by toxic materials, and (5) not economical to recycle. Greenpeace could have added a sixth reason: forcing people to sort and rinse their plastic garbage is a waste of everyones time. The shocking results suggest that the UKs homes produce 96.6 billion pieces of plastic packaging waste a year, with only 12% being recycled in the UK. It provided overwhelming proof that the UKs waste system cannot cope with the enormous amount of waste generated. 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