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The Changing Markets Foundation warns that global plastic production is set to double by 2030 and could account for 15% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The organization argues that industry lobbying is currently undermining the EU's Single-Use Plastic Directive through attempts to exempt bio-based plastics, viscose, and cellophane from the definition of single-use plastics. It further highlights efforts by brands and producer responsibility organisations to jeopardize deposit return systems (DRS), which the author claims are the only viable way to achieve 90%+ collection of beverage bottles. The letter calls for the EU to move beyond voluntary commitments and implement robust measures against overpackaging, greenwashing, and 'false solutions' like chemical recycling and incineration.

The report argues that the plastic industry employs a 'corporate playbook' of delaying, distracting, and derailing progressive legislation to protect profits and maintain a linear economy. It analyzes the voluntary commitments of ten major polluters, including Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and PepsiCo, finding them largely non-binding and lacking transparency. The document details how industry groups use 'greenwashing' tactics—such as promoting chemical recycling and bioplastics—to divert attention from the need for mandatory collection systems like Deposit Return Schemes (DRS). Case studies across 15 countries, including the US, EU, China, and Kenya, illustrate how corporations lobby against bans on single-use plastics and shift responsibility to consumers. The report concludes that voluntary initiatives have failed and calls for mandatory legislation, including high collection targets, virgin plastic taxes, and a global treaty on plastic pollution.

The report argues that the plastics industry employs a 'corporate playbook' of delay, distraction, and derailment to protect its business model. It analyzes voluntary commitments from major polluters, finding them lacking in accountability and ambition. Through case studies in 15 countries, it demonstrates how companies lobby against mandatory collection systems like Deposit Return Systems (DRS) and promote 'false solutions' such as chemical recycling and bioplastics to shift responsibility onto consumers.

The document outlines the systemic health and environmental costs of plastics, from fossil fuel extraction to waste management, and warns that projected production growth will consume a substantial portion of the remaining global carbon budget.

The brief supports the Bag Waste Act's ban on plastic carryout bags but challenges specific DEC regulations that exempt 'reusable bags' made of plastic thicker than 10 mils. Amici argue this contradicts the legislative intent to ban 'any plastic carryout bags' and is arbitrary and capricious based on evidence that thickness thresholds fail to reduce plastic waste. The brief also rejects claims that the COVID-19 pandemic justifies invalidating the Act.

The report finds that Estonia consumes approximately 19,530 tonnes of textiles annually, with 16% being used items. While separate collection has grown to 30% of new textiles placed on the market, about 50% of separately collected textiles are still handled as waste (landfilled or incinerated) due to a lack of domestic recycling capacity. Estonia is a major European importer of used textiles, often acting as a sorting hub for export to Africa and Pakistan.

The Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) and the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance (NJEJA) argue that New Jersey waste incinerators are ineligible for Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) subsidies because they have consistently violated Clean Air Act permits. The authors claim that ratepayers have paid approximately $30 million in subsidies to these facilities between 2005 and 2019, despite legal requirements that eligible 'Class II renewable energy' sources must meet the 'highest environmental standards'. The document highlights that these incinerators are located in environmental justice communities and that the BPU and DEP have failed to provide the same level of oversight for in-state facilities as they do for out-of-state ones.

The document examines two policy options recommended by a 2018 Swedish Government inquiry: a total ban on sewage sludge reuse or a limited ban allowing application only if strict quality standards are met. It highlights that while both aim to reduce environmental risks and improve phosphorus recycling, a total ban would render existing investments in certification programs like REVAQ obsolete and necessitate costly transitions to incineration and ash-based phosphorus recovery. Using Uppsala as an example, the brief argues that a limited ban is preferable as it protects upstream pollution reduction efforts and preserves the value of organic matter in sludge.

The document examines the UK carpet waste stream, asserting that the voluntary industry body Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK) has engaged in greenwashing by relying on incineration and downcycling rather than carpet-to-carpet recycling. It highlights that while landfill diversion rose to 44% by 2018, the majority of this is achieved through incineration, which carries significant climate and health costs. The authors call for the UK government to implement mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to drive genuine circularity.

The briefing examines the UK carpet waste stream, criticizing the industry's reliance on incineration and downcycling under the guise of recycling. It argues that voluntary initiatives have failed and proposes a mandatory EPR framework to incentivize eco-design and closed-loop recycling.

The report argues that the plastic lifecycle is a significant and growing driver of climate change, potentially consuming 1013 percent of the remaining carbon budget by 2050. It details emissions from fracking, steam cracking, and incineration, while highlighting the emerging threat of microplastics interfering with the ocean's carbon sink. The authors conclude that only a dramatic reduction in plastic production and a transition to zero-waste systems can mitigate these impacts.

The report details how plastic pollution constitutes a global public health crisis, affecting humans at every stage of the plastic life cycle. It examines the toxic emissions from fracking and petrochemical refining, the leaching of endocrine disruptors from packaging, and the health risks associated with microplastics and incineration. The document emphasizes that current fragmented regulatory approaches are insufficient and calls for a global reduction in plastic production to protect human rights and health.

The report details how plastic poses distinct health risks at every stage of its supply chain. It highlights toxic emissions during extraction and refining, the leaching of endocrine disruptors and carcinogens during consumer use, and the release of heavy metals and dioxins during waste incineration. The document emphasizes that microplastics and associated chemicals contaminate the global food chain, water supplies, and human tissues, while noting significant knowledge gaps and a lack of industry transparency regarding chemical compositions.

The report details how plastic creates a global health crisis through a complex life cycle. It identifies toxic emissions during fossil fuel extraction (fracking) and refining, the leaching of endocrine disruptors and carcinogens from consumer products, and the release of hazardous metals and dioxins during waste incineration. It further examines the pervasive presence of microplastics in the food chain, drinking water, and human tissues, linking them to inflammation, oxidative stress, and various chronic diseases. The document emphasizes that marginalized communities bear a disproportionate burden of these risks and calls for a transition away from plastic production based on human rights and the precautionary principle.

Sweden has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use in heating, with fossil fuels now accounting for less than 5% of heating energy. However, the system remains locked into a supply-dominated model with limited focus on reducing heating demand. This creates tensions as the increase in waste incineration for heat and resistance to stricter building energy efficiency standards clash with EU directives and the long-term need to adapt to climate change and building renovations.

The report argues that California's carpet stewardship program, led by the industry-controlled Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), has failed to meet recycling goals and instead increased the incineration of carpet waste. It contends that incineration—including Waste-to-Energy (WTE), cement kilns, and Carpet as Alternative Fuel (CAAF)—is a wasteful practice that violates the California Public Resources Code's waste management hierarchy. The document highlights significant environmental and health risks, noting that burning carpets containing PVC releases dioxins and unregulated nanoparticles. Financially, it claims WTE is the most expensive energy generation method in the U.S. and can lead to municipal bankruptcy. From a climate perspective, it cites CalRecycle data showing that WTE incineration adds approximately 26,000 metric tons of CO2, whereas recycling saves about 36,000 metric tons. The authors recommend that CalRecycle reject CARE as the stewardship organization and mandate an industry-funded program with enforceable recycling targets.

Canada has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, committing to reduce transboundary pollution and manage domestic emissions. While atmospheric emissions have decreased, Canada remains susceptible to long-range transport, with over 95% of anthropogenic mercury deposition originating outside its borders. The document highlights the role of the IISD-Experimental Lake Area (IISD-ELA) in researching mercury bioaccumulation, particularly in reservoirs, and identifies critical gaps in knowledge regarding climate change impacts and non-point source emissions. Future priorities include the safe disposal of smelter waste, remediation of contaminated sites like Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemong First Nations, and improved land-use management to address methylmercury release from flooded areas.

The report examines the carpet sector's failure to transition from a linear to a circular economy, highlighting that most carpets in Europe are incinerated or landfilled. It specifically critiques industry leaders Desso and Interface for 'greenwashing,' noting a significant gap between their sustainability goals and actual collection rates. The document also identifies the event industry as a major source of single-use carpet waste and proposes systemic changes in eco-design, collection infrastructure, and public policy to enable genuine closed-loop recycling.

The report examines the transition of the carpet industry toward a circular economy, focusing on the French and European markets. It finds that the vast majority of carpets end up in landfills or incinerators, with actual recycling rates for industry leaders like Interface and Desso being significantly lower than their public commitments. The document specifically highlights the 'scandal' of single-use carpets in the French events sector and provides recommendations for manufacturers, policymakers, and consumers to implement closed-loop systems and eco-design.

The report finds that despite the promotion of circular economy goals, the vast majority of carpets in Germany are incinerated and 60% in Europe are landfilled. It highlights a significant discrepancy between the environmental claims of industry leaders Interface and Desso and their actual reclamation rates, which are approximately 1.5% and 3% respectively. The document argues that structural issues, including poor product design, lack of separate collection systems, and an overcapacity of waste incinerators in Germany, hinder the transition to a closed-loop system. It recommends the introduction of product stewardship (Extended Producer Responsibility), an incineration tax, and mandatory bulky waste regulations to incentivise recycling over burning.