President Trump Prioritizes Plastic Despite Its Harm to Oceans and Health
Press Release Date: February 10, 2025
Location: Washington, D.C.
Contact:
Ariana Miller, Megan Jordan | email: amiller@oceana.org, mjordan@oceana.org | tel: Ariana Miller, 202.868.4061
Today, President Trump issued an executive order to end the U.S. government’s purchasing of paper straws and offering them within federal buildings. The order also calls for the development of a National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws within 45 days.
Oceana U.S. Plastics Campaign Director Christy Leavitt released the following statement in response to President Trump’s executive order:
“President Trump is headed in the wrong direction on single-use plastics. The President’s executive order on plastics spells trouble for our oceans, health, and communities. Plastic is everywhere. It’s choking our oceans, sitting at the deepest point of the seafloor, and raining in our national parks. Plastic is in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even inside our bodies. U.S. beaches and waters overflowing with plastics is also bad for businesses and coastal economies that rely on tourism. Instead of doing what is necessary to protect Americans from harmful plastic pollution, President Trump is announcing executive orders that are more about messaging than finding solutions. President Trump should be making the U.S. a global leader in addressing the plastics crisis at the source by reducing the production and use of single-use plastics and moving to reuse and refill systems.”
Last year, the Biden administration committed to phase out single-use plastics across the federal government by 2035 and from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027. The U.S. government is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services, and its purchasing decisions can have a global impact.
Background
Plastic has been found in every corner of the world and has turned up in drinking water, beer, salt, honey, and more. It’s showing up in our bodies, including blood, lungs, heart, and breast milk. It’s also one of the greatest contributors to climate change. In fact, if plastic were a country, it would be the fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. With plastic production growing at a rapid rate, increased amounts of plastic can be expected to flood our blue planet with devastating consequences.
An Oceana report revealed evidence of nearly 1,800 animals from 40 different species swallowing or becoming entangled in plastic in U.S. waters between 2009 and early 2020. Of those animals, a staggering 88% were from species listed as endangered or threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Act.
Less than 6% of plastic in the U.S. is recycled, yet the plastics industry continues to tout recycling as a panacea while pushing new plastic products onto the market. Companies need to dramatically reduce the production and use of unnecessary single-use plastic, provide plastic-free choices, and develop systems that refill and reuse packaging and foodware. Elected officials must enact policies to ensure they do so.
In February 2025, Oceana released the results of a new nationwide poll revealing that an overwhelming majority of U.S. voters support policies that reduce single-use plastics. Overall, 81% of U.S. voters support reducing the amount of plastic that is produced, with widespread bipartisan support for requiring companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging and foodware. Included among the key findings:
- 85% of U.S. voters support increasing the use of reusable packaging and foodware.
- 82% of U.S. voters support reducing the amount of single-use plastic state and federal governments buy and use.
- 80% of U.S. voters support requiring companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging and foodware.
Polling was conducted by the nonpartisan polling company Ipsos, which surveyed 1,111 registered U.S. voters from December 13 to 15, 2024.
To learn more about Oceana’s campaign to stop plastic pollution, please visit usa.oceana.org/plastics
