Global industrial lobbying against plastic regulations

Industrial sectors are increasingly engaging in lobbying efforts to influence or obstruct regulations regarding plastic waste and recycling technologies.

In the United States, the conservative group Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE) has pressured six major paper companies to stop opposing advanced plastic recycling through the American Forest & Paper Association. This tension coincides with legislative efforts, such as H.R. 7502, which seeks to officially classify advanced recycling as a legitimate recycling process. While the EPA has noted that approximately 90 advanced recycling plants are prepared for construction, regulatory uncertainty remains a hurdle.

In France, reports from the NGO Zero Waste France indicate that lobbying from the packaging, food production, and petroleum sectors has defeated several legislative attempts to curb plastic use. These include proposed bans on fresh produce packaging and single-use plastic taxes. The report highlights that 125 industrial actors were involved in plastic packaging lobbying, spending 24.3 million euros in 2025. Consequently, France faces significant environmental challenges and pays 1.5 billion euros in annual penalties to the European Union for failing to meet recycling obligations.