The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) president and CEO, Matt Seaholm, wrote an op-ed highlighting the industry’s commitment to end plastic waste and work collaboratively to keep plastic in the circular economy. The article was published in Waste360 during the recent UN Global Plastic Pollution Treaty meetings in Canada.

In 2022, 175 nations agree to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024. The latest round of negotiations in Ottawa.

“We need plastic—plain and simple. It is an essential part of society because of all the benefits it provides,” Seaholm wrote. “Do we need to keep it out of the environment? Absolutely. Keeping plastic out of the environment was the intent of the original process and should remain the focus. But committing to ending plastic waste while acknowledging the essential nature of plastic goes hand in hand—we can’t do one without the other.”

Access the full article op-ed on the PLASTICS website.