Focus on… USA

Is a single-use plastic ban on the horizon?

Does Canada’s recent adoption of the Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR) signal increased demand for federal level legislation in the USA, where Landbell Group’s regulatory tracking team are braced for changes in single-use plastics (SUP) rules?

In June, anticipation came with the announcement from the U.S. General Services Administration, finalising a rule that encourages its contractors to identify single-use plastic free (SUP-free) packaging for products supplied and purchased under Federal Supply Schedule contracts.

The new rule paves the way for further policy developments to advance the Federal Sustainability Plan which helps agencies to reduce the purchase of SUP products.

It intends to highlight contractors that offer SUP-free packaging with a new product icon on ordering systems.

Allowing federal buyers to select products with SUP-free packaging addresses the impact of plastic pollution and promotes long-term sustainability.

Although federal-level legislation remains elusive, at least 31 states have enacted SUP legislation, signalling that more is yet to come.

Since March 2024, five US states have enacted SUP legislation: California, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Maine.

Others, namely Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Rhode Island, presented draft Bills proposing various SUP-related measures earlier this year.

The regulatory tracking team is monitoring the situation. In addition to plastic bags, beverage containers and cups are also tracked by Landbell Group within its Knowledge Database (KDB).

Companies looking to continue or develop their business in the US can now access the most recent updates in the KDB.