Craig Cookson

Former Senior Director, Plastics Sustainability, American Chemistry Council

Most Recent Content from Craig Cookson

Who Decides What’s Sustainable?

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America’s plastic makers are asking Congress to initiate a good hard look at plastics and sustainability, particularly in relation to other materials. It’s Action #4 of 5 Actions for Sustainable Change, five important steps Congress can take to accelerate a circular economy for plastics through a comprehensive, national strategy.

For Plastics Recycling to Succeed, We Need National Recycling Standards

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A recent survey found that 82% of U.S. adults support national plastics recycling standards. As plastic makers, we do, too. It’s our third action in America’s Plastic Maker’s 5 Actions to Accelerate a Circular Economy for Plastics. We believe that national recycling standards for plastics are needed to support a circular economy and help achieve the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) goal to increase the national recycling rate to 50% by 2030.

America Needs Modern Regulations for Modern Technologies

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You’ve heard me talk about advanced recycling many times on this blog and how it will play a critical role in achieving a circular economy for plastics. The demand for recycled plastic is growing rapidly as more brand companies commit to using it in their products and packaging, and advanced recycling will help create the supply. Congress can help accelerate this process.

30 by ’30?

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Did you hear that America’s Plastic Makers recently called for a national recycling standard requiring all plastic packaging to include at least 30% recycled plastics by 2030?

What Policies Can Help Improve Plastics Recycling?

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After last year’s (non-virtual) conference, I wrote that plastic makers were focused on how “the entire plastic value chain can move from the past’s linear model… to a new circular model that enables us to use—and reuse—more of our plastics resources.” This year, I proposed that we’re likely going to need good public policy to get there.

Advanced Plastics Recycling and the Air We Breathe

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I’ve written about the promise of advanced recycling a lot on this blog. These technologies take a raw material – in this case, used plastics with their inherent hydrocarbon/energy value – and create valuable new materials that can be turned into new plastics, chemicals, lubricants, waxes, coatings and transportation fuels, and more.

Advanced Plastics Recycling Scores Big at Latest Recycling Conference

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Held just a few weeks after the (somewhat more) popular sporting event, the Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show for years has been the ultimate opportunity to gather key stakeholders to analyze the state of plastics recycling.

How Do We Measure Sustainability? Just One Word: Standards.

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Buy coffee lately? You may have noticed labels on the packaging by “certification” organizations that track and certify that the coffee growers:

To All Our Essential Sanitation and Recycling Professionals: Thank You

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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, while many of us are working from home, many American workers who are part of “essential” industries continue to go to their place of work. Hospital and healthcare workers are the most obvious examples, but this list includes those who work in food production and grocery stores, delivery and postal services… and of course those making chemicals and plastics that go into hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment, and other products that help keep us safe and lessen the risk of infection.

New Dollars and Sense for Recycling

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Recycling has faced strong headwinds over the past few years. China announced its National Sword policy restricting imports of recyclables in 2017, and other Southeast Asian countries following suit shortly thereafter.