ACC: New Report on Plastic Pollution is Misleading

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The plastics industry has claimed that the findings in the newly released report on plastics pollution are misleading. It refers to the report titled “Plastic Waste Makers Index” report published by Australia-based Minderoo Foundation.

According to the report, nearly 20 polymer producers accounted for more than 50% of the single-use plastic waste produced in 2019. The top three in the list are Exxon Mobil, Dow Chemical Co. and Sinopec. Incidentally, these three companies accounted for 16% of single-use plastic waste. Furthermore, the report cites that nearly 100 companies are responsible for more than 90% of global single-use plastic production.

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The report notes that single-use plastics that ended up as waste exceeded 130 million metric tons in 2019. Also, nearly one-fifth of this waste was littered. Over the next five years, the report foresees 30% surge in global throwaway plastics production.

The Minderoo Foundation called upon petrochemical companies to disclose their plastic waste footprint and to transition away from fossil fuel towards circular models. It also urged banks and investors from providing finances to these companies.

However, the report has drawn severe opposition from various plastics groups. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) called the report as ‘misleading’ and said that it undermines the important role played by plastics in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.