Two words: New plastics

The city of Austin joined the “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment” yesterday. What’s that? According to a press release about Austin’s onboarding, it’s “an initiative led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment). The Global Commitment aims to create ‘a new normal’ for plastic packaging by fundamentally rethinking the way we make, use and reuse plastic materials.” Austin joins 290 other organizations (brands, companies and governments) in a quest to eliminate problem and unnecessary plastic and work to ensure all plastic can be reused, recycled or composted by 2025. “I was proud to sign onto the Global Commitment on behalf of the City of Austin,” said Mayor Adler. “Our great city has a long history of proving that environmental protection and a prosperous economy are not at odds. Austin is excited to join forces with other leaders around the world who are united by a common vision of keeping plastics in the economy and out of the environment.”