President Trump has announced plans to reverse a ban on plastic straws in US government buildings and on government-run land.
The ban, introduced by former President Joe Biden, was part of an effort to reduce single-use plastics in government departments by 2035.
Trump called the move towards paper alternatives “ridiculous” and plans to sign an executive order reinstating plastic straws.
Biden’s plastic phase-out policy
In 2024, Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at phasing out single-use plastics in federal food service operations by 2027, with a full ban in government buildings by 2035.
This was part of broader environmental policies seeking to limit plastic waste, which can persist in ecosystems for decades and harm wildlife.
The Department of the Interior had previously introduced similar measures in 2022, restricting plastic items such as straws, bags, and cutlery in national parks and government-managed spaces.
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By GlobalDataMichael Laurier, CEO of Symphony Environmental, criticised such bans, stating, “The focus on single-use plastics like straws fails to address the elephant in the room in the form of plastic packaging generally.”
He described bans on items such as straws and cotton-bud sticks as “gesture politics,” calling for a shift in attention towards broader packaging concerns.
Trump’s rationale and opposition to paper straws
Trump has consistently opposed restrictions on plastic straws. In 2020, during his previous campaign, he criticised paper alternatives, arguing they were ineffective. Announcing his latest executive order, he stated:
“Biden’s mandate for paper straws was now dead: Enjoy your next drink without a straw that disgustingly dissolves in your mouth!!!”
Laurier agreed that plastic straws are not the primary environmental issue, adding, “Items made from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are immensely useful, and have a better life-cycle assessment than alternative packaging materials.”
However, he acknowledged the problem of plastic waste escaping into the environment and contributing to microplastic pollution.
Calls for alternative solutions
Laurier has urged policymakers to consider alternative approaches to plastic waste management rather than outright bans. He pointed to Symphony Environmental’s biodegradable plastic technology, which uses a resin called NbR to create products that degrade more quickly in the open environment.
“The answer is to make these items with Symphony’s NbR resin instead of ordinary PE and PP,” he explained. “These products will then contain 20% less fossil-derived material and quickly biodegrade if exposed in the open environment.”
Laurier has written to President Trump, advocating for the continued use of plastics due to their lower CO2 emissions compared to other materials.
He noted that previous administrations had been resistant to engagement on the issue and called for policies based on scientific assessments rather than political decisions.
“Our technology is supported by legislation in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries,” Laurier said. “The US ASTM organisation has established a global standard to ensure these products are biodegradable and non-toxic. We look forward to similar support from the new administration in the USA.”
Trump is expected to sign the executive order in the coming days, marking a reversal of Biden’s policies on plastic reduction.
