Plastics and Planet: Enabling a Sustainable Future

Plastic pollution is a critical issue, and we recognize our industry has an important role to play in solving the problem. Today, on Earth Day, we are all reminded of our responsibility to safeguard and protect our planet and there is undoubtedly a need for industry to move faster.

Framing plastics as an adversary to the planet ignores the positive role which plastics play in society, the promise of a circular economy, and the active role producers are playing to enable a global agreement to end plastic pollution.

I believe it is plastics AND planet. Plastics are essential to enabling a sustainable future, and we can move faster toward ending plastic waste by embracing and enabling a circular economy.

Positive role that plastics play in society

Without plastics we would not have modern life- they are essential to support a growing world population.

Plastics are key to the energy transition, from the latest automotive components that enable vehicle lightweighting, to integral components for wind turbines and solar panels.

Plastics help to keep food fresh longer so it can be safely stored and transported long distances, reducing food waste.

Plastics help keep us safe and healthy, from seatbelts to personal protective equipment, even medical supplies and equipment. They support quality healthcare through their use in medical applications such as gowns, hand sanitizers, biohazard bags and medicine containers.

Studies have shown that substituting other materials for plastics comes at a higher net environmental cost.

Enabling a circular economy

Keeping plastic materials circulating in the economy is critical to ending new plastic pollution. In a circular economy, plastic has too much value to be idly thrown away. A more circular economy will help preserve precious natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs for future generations.

Effective public policies can help advance a circular economy by promoting demand for recycled content through national targets and establishing funding for recycling infrastructure through funding mechanisms such as EPR or Extended Producer Responsibility schemes.

Our industry and employees around the globe are firmly committed to ending new plastic pollution by embracing a circular economy, because we know how important plastic is to everyday living today, and in the future.

Producers pushing for a global agreement to end plastic pollution

Our company supports the United Nations' ambition of ending plastic pollution.

I am present at the UN negotiations to advocate for an agreement that unleashes innovation, bolsters infrastructure, and reduces plastic leakage in the environment.

As someone who has spent their entire career in chemistry and plastics, this is a topic I am deeply passionate about. I’ve seen the plastic waste challenge with my own eyes, it’s real and it makes me angry. The good news is that there is an increasing amount of technology and know-how to end plastic pollution, without denying society the benefits of plastic. Plastics are essential to enabling a sustainable future, and we can move faster toward ending plastic waste by embracing and enabling a circular economy.

It takes collaboration across the entire value chain to end plastic pollution, and LYB welcomes constructive dialogue on how best to address this global challenge.

Find out more about our efforts to help end plastic waste above.