Today, Americans are more aware than ever of the impact of plastic waste on the environment. As climate consciousness places increasing pressure on companies that manufacture single-use plastics, these businesses have been forced to become more environmentally friendly. Or have they? As people become more aware of the problem of plastic pollution, corporations direct blame and attention away from themselves and onto consumers.

 Companies want consumers to believe that their personal efforts to cut down on plastic use are the most effective solution to climate change, but that is far from the truth. Television host John Oliver points out that consumers are led to believe that they are making a significant positive impact by recycling when the little-known reality is that over 90% of plastics cannot be recycled. Instead, most plastic waste is exported to other countries or dumped into the ocean. By pushing the idea that consumers are responsible for stopping climate change with their own habits, corporations escape blame and pressure to change. 

In 2018, the movement to ban plastic straws from fast food establishments took off after a video of a sea turtle with a straw in its nose went viral. After enormous backlash on social media, companies like Starbucks and Disney pledged to stop production of plastic straws. When faced with enough public pressure, businesses are usually forced to take action if only to protect their profits. Their solution is to keep consumers in the dark about the realities of corporate contribution to plastic waste so they never face that pressure.

The truth is that no amount of conscientious behavior by consumers can offset the impact of corporate waste because of the scale at which it is generated by big businesses — just four of the world’s largest companies produce over 6 million tons of plastic waste each year, whereas the average consumer in the US produces less than a ton in the same time. The fastest and most efficient way to protect the planet from the overproduction of single-use plastics is to place strict regulations on corporations. Unfortunately, because corporate donations keep most lawmakers in the US beholden to their interests, regulations remain minimal at the expense of the planet. Americans can and should demand better from corporations and lawmakers, who work to keep citizens misinformed or uneducated about environmental issues to avoid taking responsible action.

State laws like California’s plastic bag ban are a step in the right direction for environmental protection, but time is running out to act on climate change. The US needs bolder federal laws that address plastic production and pollution by reining in corporations. To get there, voters must back politicians who are climate conscious, committed to enforcing bold environmental regulations on companies and who refuse corporate donations.