Petrochemical companies have known for 40 years that plastics recycling wouldn’t work

For 40 years, plastic and petrochemical companies have misled the public about the viability of plastics recycling. A recent report from the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) exposes a history of deception and manipulation by Big Oil and the plastics industry. Despite being aware since the 1980s that plastics recycling was not a sustainable solution, industry executives continued to push for it, knowing recycled plastics could not compete economically with virgin materials. Today, the U.S. plastics recycling rate remains dismally low at 5-6 percent. The report reveals how the plastics industry used recycling as a PR tool to evade regulation and public scrutiny. Through public relations campaigns and false advertising, they gave the illusion of progress while failing to address the fundamental issues with plastics recycling. The industry’s promotion of chemical recycling as a solution mirrors past failed attempts to mislead the public. CCI’s report aims to hold the plastics and petrochemical industries accountable for their deceptive practices and push for legal action to address the plastic pollution crisis.