Strategies to Reduce Plastic in Packaging
Advancing Efforts to Combat Plastic Pollution
The Biden-Harris Administration released a new strategy
to tackle plastic pollution - taking action to reduce single-use plastic by announcing a new goal to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. This goal supports section 207 of E.O. 14057, requiring all federal agencies to divert at least 50% of non-hazardous solid waste, including plastic, from landfills annually by fiscal year 2025 and 75% by fiscal year 2030. Federal agencies are leading by example within their operations and through new initiatives outlined in Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities, developed by the Interagency Policy Committee on Plastic Pollution and a Circular Economy.
GSA Promotes Single-use Plastic (SUP) Free Packaging
The U.S. General Services Administration encourages contractors to identify single-use plastic free packaging for products supplied under Federal Supply Schedule contracts, helping agency buyers find and select products that help cut plastic waste in their supply chains.
General Services Acquisition Regulation Definitions:
The following single-use plastic free (SUP-free) packaging icons are coming soon to GSA Advantage. Look for products that feature the icons to help reduce single-use plastic waste!
U.S. Navy Plastic Removal in the Marine Environment (PRIME)
The PRIME program helps reduce plastic waste aboard U.S. Navy ships, making it easier to manage and dispose of plastics. In compliance with The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the program bans oceangoing vessels from disposing of plastics in the marine environment. Today, U.S. Navy ships are prohibited from discharging any plastic waste overboard. The PRIME program helps protect our oceans first by minimizing plastics in packaging, packing, and marking material within the Navy’s Supply System, but also by sorting, consolidating, and storing plastic waste until it can be off-loaded to an ashore facility. Look for products that display the PRIME logo, which can be found on GSA Advantage.
