Pessimistic about plastic? You're not alone

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Jun 09, 2022 View in browser   By Debra Kahn and Jordan Wolman Presented by THE BIG PICTURE World Wildlife Fund People are pessimistic about being able to reduce their plastic waste. They have good reason, given that recycling rates are down nationwide. Fifty-four percent of respondents to a new World Wildlife Fund poll say they worry their individual actions won't affect the overall amount of plastic waste. The poll, released Monday, reveals a despondent populace: More than 75 percent said they believe that none or only a small fraction of plastic waste in the U.S. actually gets recycled. That sense of futility in turn may be jeopardizing recycling rates: 46 percent say they worry it's pointless to put plastic into the recycling bin because so little of it gets recycled. At the same time, an increasing share of people think plastics do more good than harm — 45 percent, up from 36 percent in 2020. But they also want more reusable options: 78 percent said they would prefer reusable to disposable plastic products, and 75 percent said they would prefer to buy things with minimal plastic packaging. They're increasingly seeing it as a problem for businesses to fix, the poll finds. Fifty-two percent said businesses that produce or sell plastic bear the most responsibility for reducing waste, up 5 points from 2020. And just 25 percent pinned the blame on individuals who use plastic, down from 32 percent in 2020.   A message from Bank of America: As climate change intensifies, every segment of society must have an abiding interest in stemming its impact. In Bank of America's new sustainability Q&A, leaders share the essential commitment needed by business and financial communities to create innovative solutions that counter the environmental and social challenges facing our planet.   There's a partisan divide, as you might expect, with Republicans being more likely to assign individual responsibility. Thirty-two percent of Republicans said individuals have the most responsibility, compared to 17 percent of Democrats. But people are also laying it at Congress' feet: 23 percent said it was among the top five issues for the government to address, up from 16 percent in 2020. (It still ranks behind 10 other policies, including health care, the economy, immigration, climate change, inequality, racism, terrorism and gun safety.)   DON'T MISS THE 2022 GREAT LAKES ECONOMIC FORUM:  POLITICO is excited to be the exclusive media partner again at the Council of the Great Lakes Region's bi-national Great Lakes Economic Forum with co-hosts Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. This premier, intimate networking event, taking place June 26-28 in Chicago, brings together international, national and regional leaders from business, government, academia and the nonprofit sector each year. "Powering Forward" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect key decision-makers with thought leaders and agents of change to identify and advance solutions that will strengthen the region's competitiveness and sustainability in today's competitive climate of trade, innovation, investment, labor mobility and environmental performance. Register today.     When it comes to talking about plastic, the messenger matters — but not in the way you might think. Respondents said elected officials were the least trustworthy sources of information on plastics, with federal officials drawing the most skepticism at 52 percent. The American Chemistry Council was the most-trusted trade group, with 27 percent of respondents saying they didn't trust it at all (43 percent said they distrusted the American Beverage Association, in comparison). Next was local trash and recycling companies, with 20 percent distrust. And 15 percent said they didn't trust WWF itself (points for honesty!) ACC said it would continue advocating for a raft of plastics policies it's endorsed, including recycled-content requirements, support for advanced and mechanical recycling, and national recycling standards. "ACC appreciates WWF's polling and policy guidance on plastics," vice president of plastics Joshua Baca said in a statement. "We hope to work collaboratively with Congress, WWF and other stakeholders to pass meaningful legislation to accelerate a circular economy for plastics."   A message from Bank of America:   YOU TELL US Team Sustainability is editor Greg Mott, deputy editor Debra Kahn, and reporters Lorraine Woellert and Jordan Wolman. Reach us at gmott@politico.com, dkahn@politico.com, lwoellert@politico.com and jwolman@politico.com. Want more? You can have it. Sign up for the Long Game. Four days a week and still free. That's sustainability!   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     WHAT WE'RE CLICKING — The Interior Department says it'll phase out single-use plastics on public lands, including national parks...by 2032. POLITICO's E&E News has more details. — Carbon-removal companies are seeing a boom in funding, WSJ reports. — German brewers need people to take their empties back more quickly — the war in Ukraine is hurting new supply. The NYT has the story. — A bipartisan group of billionaires wants federal funding for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, NYT reports.   A message from Bank of America: What will it take to create a more sustainable world? Three Bank of America leaders discuss what the transition to a low-carbon economy entails, why environmental and social challenges are linked, and the essential role financial institutions and investors must play in driving solutions. They share the innovations needed in financing, technology and risk management to counter the environmental and social challenges facing our planet. "Sustainable finance means putting humanity and purpose together with capital. Every industry has the power and obligation to adapt and help drive positive change," said Karen Fang, Global Head of Sustainable Finance for Bank of America. Learn how Bank of America is supporting the transition to a sustainable economy through its operations, business activities and partnerships.     Follow us on Twitter Debra Kahn @debra_kahn Greg Mott @gwmott Lorraine Woellert @Woellert Jordan Wolman @jordanwolman   Follow us

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