Plastics Industry Roadmap Highlights Immense Opportunities to Remake Durable Goods at End-of-Life

WASHINGTON, DC (December 5, 2023) — With nearly 60% of North American plastic production that isn’t exported going into durable goods, finding end-of-life solutions that conserve these materials will be essential for achieving a circular economy, where used plastics are remade into new plastics instead of discarded.

To help inform policymakers, business leaders, and the public on ways to advance more sustainable and circular solutions at the end-of-life for durable goods, the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Plastics Division has released an industry roadmap. The roadmap details policies and business approaches that can accelerate development of the circular economy for durable goods in five key market sectors – automotive, building and construction, electronics, infrastructure, and medical.

The roadmap’s recommendations were informed by more than 100 participants convened from industry, government and academia.

“More than ever, consumers, brands, and industrial sectors are demanding more circular and sustainable business operations,” said Gina Oliver, senior director, durable markets at ACC. “This roadmap offers responsible guidance for creating the conditions to accelerate more sustainable and circular approaches that capture the value of durable goods at end-of-life. This can reduce costs for businesses and help conserve natural resources and our environment.”

While the full report details specific actions for each sector, several overarching themes include:

ACC will continue to engage policymakers and the durable plastics value chain to advance the circularity of durable goods in line with the industry roadmap. We encourage these and other stakeholders to contact us to explore how we can work together toward more circular and sustainable plastics in durable products.

American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division

The American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division represents America’s Plastic Makers^SM plus the half million+ scientists, engineers, technicians, and other innovators who make plastics for many essential and lifesaving products that are vital to modern life. America’s Plastic Makers continue to embrace change. We’re linking innovation with sustainability, deploying next generation technologies to make plastics lighter, stronger, more efficient and more recyclable, so we can meet our goal for 100% of U.S. plastic packaging to be reused, recycled, or recovered by 2040. We’re making sustainable change to help build a cleaner, safer, more sustainable future for generations to come. 

American Chemistry Council

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the multibillion-dollar business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products, technologies and services that make people’s lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health, safety and security performance through Responsible Care®; common sense advocacy addressing major public policy issues; and health and environmental research and product testing. ACC members and chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development, and are advancing products, processes and technologies to address climate change, enhance air and water quality, and progress toward a more sustainable, circular economy.