Is the US really shifting on plastics?

In closed-door briefings with industry and advocacy groups on Aug. 14, a White House representative announced that the US is no longer against global goals to cap plastic production. This marks a considerable shift from the nation’s previous stance on plastics, which focused on the preferences of individual countries and reducing waste. The White House briefings lacked detail, but environmental advocates say they’re cautiously optimistic about the change. Jonathan Black from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) read from a prepared statement at two separate online briefings, one for industry members and one for environmental advocacy organizations. Sources present say Black announced that the US is now considering methods to curb plastic pollution that had been effectively off the table in the past, such as limiting new plastic production and putting restrictions on the use of some chemicals in plastics. However, he did not mention specific limits or