Extrusion International 6-2024-USA

32 Extrusion International 6/2024 32 INDUSTRY NEWS Statement Ahead of INC-5 Negotiations Released PLASTICS has issued the following statement ahead of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiat- ing Committee (INC) on plastic pol- lution, taking place in Busan, South Korea: “Plastic is an essential mate- rial that improves our quality of life in countless ways,” said PLASTICS President and CEO Matt Seaholm. “However, it must be kept out of the environment—a goal shared by our industry and the attendees of these negotiations. We strongly support the creation of an ambitious glob- al plastic pollution agreement. At the same time, we are concerned about a number of the provisions that have been proposed that far exceed the scope of the original in- tent of the process to create an in- ternational agreement – including the idea of capping production of plastic, which would harm nearly all U.S. manufacturers without reach- ing our shared sustainability goals. Moreover, these types of approach- es make it unlikely that the bipar- tisan support needed in Congress would be secured to approve a final global agreement. ” „As an industry, we remain com- mitted to collaborating with all lev- els of government to combat plastic waste. Ensuring that the U.S. econ- omy thrives while responsibly using our resources is a bipartisan priority. We will continue working with any- one who shares our commitment to reducing plastic waste and advanc- ing sustainable practices,” conclud- ed Seaholm. https://www.plasticsindustry.org/ Recycling Champion Award In celebration of Recycling Week and the Congressional Recycling Caucus, the PLASTICS presented the 2024 Congressional Recycling Champion Award to Senator Tom Carper, a retiring Co-Chair of the Congressional Recycling Caucus. This award recognizes Senator Carper's longstanding commit- ment to sustainability and his sig- nificant achievements in advancing recycling policy. His leadership has been instrumental in driving prog- ress on recycling initiatives, leaving a lasting impact on Capitol Hill. “I believe we have a responsibility to leave our planet in better shape than we found it. By promoting re- cycling in America, we can serve as faithful stewards of our planet and fight climate change, while also in - vesting in American manufacturing and jobs. That’s a win-win,” said Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Senator Tom Carper. “Thank you to the Plastics Industry Association for this recog- nition.” “Acknowledging the vital role recycling plays in supporting a circular economy has been a con- stant theme that Senator Carper has carried throughout his career. Through Senator Carper’s leader- ship roles, he has always believed that material should be kept in in our economy and out of our envi- ronment,” said PLASTICS President and CEO Matt Seaholm. “We are proud to present Senator Carper with the 2024 Congressional Recy- cling Champion Award.” Founded in 2006, the Congres- sional Recycling Caucus aims to educate Senate and House mem- bers and staff on the benefits of recycling to the U.S. economy and environment, and supports public policies aimed at increasing recy- cling across the country. America Recycles Day Celebrated The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) released the following statement celebrating America Re- cycles Day, the official national ob - servance dedicated to promoting recycling across the United States: “For the plastics industry, every day is America Recycles Day,” said PLASTICS President and CEO Matt Seaholm. “Our industry is dedicat- ed to advancing recycling, which is why we continually work to im- prove recyclability and invest bil- lions in innovative technologies to make a real difference. Recycling is real, and the plastics industry is proud to be part of the solution. However, to increase recycling rates, we need strong partnerships. We look forward to collaborating with the new administration, Con- gress, and governments across the country to expand recycling efforts and recover more valuable materi- als every day,” Seaholm concluded. PLASTICS launched a video fea- turing recycling efforts taking place at Eastman in Kingsport, Tennessee, as part of its advocacy campaign, Recycling is Real. The campaign provides content to help elected officials and policymakers understand that recycling is a vital link in the sustainability and circu- larity chain, enabling them to make more well-informed decisions about recycling resources for their constituents. https://recyclingisreal.com/ Matt Seaholm