USA | The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) applauded the introduction and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee advancement of the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (STEWARD) Act (S.351).
As the second largest and fastest-growing segment of the domestic packaging industry, FPA’s members have employed approximately 83,000 workers in the United States.
Flexible packaging is produced from paper, plastic, film, aluminium foil, or any combination of these materials and includes bags, pouches, labels, liners, wraps, roll stock, and other flexible products.
“FPA and its members are committed to helping solve plastic waste issues and increasing the recycling of packaging. This bipartisan legislation is part of that solution,” said FPA President and CEO Dan Felton.
“We urge the House to follow the Senate’s lead and advance this legislation.”
The STEWARD Act is a combination of the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (RIAA) and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (RCAA) that the FPA actively supported in the last Congress.
The STEWARD Act would establish the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand recycling access in underserved communities through a pilot grant program.
It has authorised the EPA to collect and analyse data on market trends, material processing rates, curbside recycling programs' effectiveness, and associated accessibility challenges.
It also directed the EPA to assess national composting potential, evaluating infrastructure, regulatory barriers, costs, and industry trends.
The Flexible Packaging Association is the voice of the U.S. manufacturers of flexible packaging and their suppliers. The association’s mission is connecting, advancing, and leading the flexible packaging industry.
Flexible packaging represents over USD 42 billion in annual sales and is the second-largest and one of the fastest-growing packaging industry segments. Flexible packaging is produced from paper, plastic, film, aluminium foil, or any combination of those materials and includes bags, pouches, labels, liners, wraps, roll stock, and other flexible products.
