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AMBR executives bring expertise in mission-based recycling to the national “Plastics: A Forum on Research & Advocacy” conference
Two AMBR executives recently presented at Plastics: A Forum on Research & Advocacy, a conference co-sponsored by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at New York University’s School of Law. The forum brought together national experts, scientists, advocates, and policymakers to address one of today’s most urgent environmental issues: plastic pollution.
As mission-based recyclers, AMBR collectively works toward eliminating waste, toxics, and pollution from our materials economy. As such, in discussions such as these on solutions to plastic pollution, AMBR emphasizes the importance of reduction first and foremost. As recyclers, we know recycling is not the solution for most plastic waste, and we work to bring our expertise into spaces such as this conference to transfer the focus to authentic solutions.
Addressing Consumer Communications and Demand
Katie Drews, the national director for AMBR and CEO and co-president of Eureka Recycling, participated in a panel discussion on consumer communication and demand. She shared the stage with Neil Tangri, the Science and Policy Director for GAIA, and Steven Feit, the Senior Attorney and Legal Research Manager at CIEL.
Together, the panelists reinforced that the plastics crisis is not driven by consumer demand and that attempts to make plastics more “sustainable” or to upgrade recycling systems will never fully address the toxic nature of plastics.
From extraction to disposal, the entire lifecycle of plastic poses significant environmental and human health risks. The solution lies in reducing production, not advancing or supporting the systems that perpetuate it.
AMBR’s key points included:
- Consumer demand for plastics is a myth: While the oil and gas industry that creates plastics has leaned on the narrative that plastic pollution comes from consumer behavior and a lack of education, our system isn’t designed for consumers to live a zero waste lifestyle; we have little choice over product packaging. We must address the core issue of plastic production.
- Reduction and reuse must come before recycling: Recycling should only come after reduction and reuse. Recycling is not the solution to the plastics crisis. For most plastics, it’s not even viable. However, we can trust that for certain materials like paper, cardboard, glass, and metals, recycling works!
- Recycling can be a bridge strategy for some plastics before elimination: For some plastics (#1, 2, and 5), recycling can be a bridge solution to keep resources in circulation until the reduction of extraction and production is mandated. These plastics are authentically recycled when diverted to the recycling bin.
- Solutions must be centered in environmental justice communities and human health: Our solutions must prioritize human and environmental health and sustainability as well as center and protect the most vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by plastic pollution from both production and disposal.
AMBR Speaks to Achieving Circularity Through Reuse
Martin Bourque, AMBR steering committee member and executive director of the Ecology Center, also presented and contributed a crucial perspective on the importance of prioritizing reduction and reuse before recycling.
He emphasized that plastics are actively disrupting recycling systems and highlighted the packaging industry’s growing reliance on flexible plastic packaging, a material that is both unsustainable and unrecyclable.
Bourque also debunked the notion that false solutions such as “advanced recycling” could make plastics sustainable. Instead, he underscored the need to focus on reducing plastic production at the source rather than expanding plastic recycling initiatives.
A Celebration of Advocacy and Progress
Overall, this forum was an inspiring reminder of the work being done to tackle the plastics crisis. From scientists and attorneys general to grassroots activists, the collective effort to bring attention to plastic pollution is gaining momentum. It was a privilege to be part of such a vibrant and dedicated community working to create a future where we no longer rely on plastic at the expense of our planet and health.
A special thank you to AG William Tong and Bethany Davis Noll, Executive Director at The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law, for their efforts to co-sponsor and organize this event, creating multiple opportunities to connect, question, learn, and work collaboratively toward a more just and zero waste future.
Further Exploration
The conference speaker lineup was impressive, with insights ranging from environmental justice to policy reform, scientific research, and corporate responsibility. Check out these speakers for further exploration:
The keynote address was delivered by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who detailed the lawsuit his office recently filed against ExxonMobil. This groundbreaking case is the first of its kind, holding a petrochemical giant accountable for misleading the public about the recyclability of plastics and for contributing to environmental degradation in California. AG Bonta spoke about the deceptive marketing tactics that convinced the public recycling was a sufficient solution to plastic waste, only for these same companies to later promote “advanced” or “chemical” recycling, another misleading “solution.”
Leaders like Jo Banner, Co-Founder & Co-Director of The Descendants Project and Alejandra Warren, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Plastic Free Future, delivered powerful messaging about the importance of centering environmental justice communities. These frontline and fenceline communities bear the brunt of the health impacts from plastic pollution, and both Banner and Warren emphasized the critical need to prioritize their voices and experiences in any discussion of solutions.
Crystal Dreisbach, CEO of Upstream, shared a forward-thinking presentation on reuse as a solution to plastic production and pollution. She highlighted how reuse initiatives not only reduce plastic waste but also foster healthier, cleaner communities.
Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics, underscored the urgent need to reduce plastic production. She critiqued the long-standing narrative that recycling could clean up the plastic mess, emphasizing that without reduction, the problem will only grow.
Science-Backed Insights on Plastic’s Impact
The scientific community was well represented, presenting compelling data on the impacts of plastics on both human and environmental health. Speakers included:
- Dr. Veena Singla, Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University
- Dr. Tracey Woodruff, University of California, San Francisco
- Dr. Jane Muncke, Managing Director, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
- Dr. Leonardo Trasande, NYU School of Medicine
- Dr. Nihan Karali, Berkeley Lab
These experts explained how plastics pose significant risks to human health and ecosystems, from production to disposal. Their research underscored that plastic pollution is not just a waste issue but a public health crisis.
Policy Solutions and Challenges
A highlight of the conference was a panel on local, national, and global policy efforts. Kate Donovan from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Erin Simon from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Sarah Doll from Safer States discussed the challenges and successes in policy aimed at curbing plastic production. They stressed the importance of strong, enforceable policies to reduce plastic waste and pollution globally.