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Once upon a time, before marijuana became legal in most of the U.S., plastic usage was minimal. Small bags and disposable lighters were about it. But today, cannabis dispensaries offer many products like gummies, syrups, and smokeables that come in copious amounts of plastic.
Cannabis legalization has led to an increase in packaging waste. The industry now faces a significant plastics problem, as the rapid growth has introduced a proliferation of packaging. According to Mike Forenza, managing partner at AE Global, “The cannabis industry is one of the more problematic” when it comes to sustainability.
Even though many company leaders are concerned about sustainability, they face challenges due to regulations and a complex market landscape. This results in a lot of waste: “You end up having a lot of waste,” Forenza noted.
### The Scale of the Problem
The dispensary support platform Flowhub estimated that the U.S. cannabis industry generates 7,000 tons of plastic waste annually. Marijuanapackaging.com claims that one gram of cannabis product can require up to 70 times its weight in packaging materials, resulting in an estimated 10,000 tons of plastic waste per year across North America.
While this amount is minuscule compared to the plastics generated by many common products, it still matters. The world faces a plastic-waste crisis where marine scientists warn that a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the oceans each minute. Every new source of plastic waste, especially one growing as fast as the cannabis business, contributes to this problem.
The rapid growth of the cannabis industry left state lawmakers struggling to keep up with regulations. Child-resistant packaging requirements were implemented as blanket measures, which has led to an increase in plastic use. At least 25 states require child-resistant packaging, and about 15 states mandate opaque packaging for cannabis products.
Several startups cater to cannabis companies that want more sustainable options made from reclaimed and recycled materials. However, the need for tamper-proof and child-resistant packages limits these alternatives. Aaron Smith of the National Cannabis Industry Association notes that “companies frequently find that compliant alternatives to plastic are either simply unavailable or cost-prohibitive at scale.”
As the industry matures, there is an opportunity to innovate sustainable packaging solutions. Kyle Sherman of Flowhub believes that as the cannabis market expands and more states legalize sales, public-private cooperation on packaging rules will be essential.
In the meantime, Mike Forenza’s company AE Global has partnered with organizations addressing plastic waste issues, supporting better waste collection and recycling in areas most affected by pollution. His company supports RePurpose Global, which helps businesses offset their plastic footprint through funding the recycling of an equivalent amount of plastic waste.
The United Nations will host talks in August to discuss a treaty aimed at reducing plastic waste. Newsweek is hosting a live event on July 24 at 2 p.m. ET to explore the challenges and solutions related to this issue, featuring expert insights into the treaty discussions and efforts to combat plastic pollution.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to Mike Forenza, what is one of the more problematic industries when it comes to sustainability?
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