Industry Rules Needed for ‘Eco-friendly’ Plastics, Report Warns

A lack of clear definitions and federal standards for “eco-friendly” plastic like utensils and straws leads to deceptive advertising and greater waste management challenges, according to a new report from advocacy group Beyond Plastics.

Beyond Plastics warned that the presence of executives from major petrochemical companies such as BASF and TotalEnergies Corbion on the board of key certification programs for bioplastics and compostable packaging in the US, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, creates significant conflicts of interest. The group called for policymakers at all levels to incentivize the reuse of such plastics.

“Many consumers and businesses are genuinely trying to ...