February 9, 2025 – Trump Announces ‘Back to Plastic’ Initiative, Challenging Biden’s Plastic Straw Ban
Former U.S. President Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on February 7th, to unveil a new policy statement. He announced his intention to halt the Biden administration’s plan to phase out plastic straws in favor of paper alternatives, boldly proclaiming the slogan “Back to Plastic.”
Trump criticized paper straws for their poor user experience and revealed plans to sign an executive order next week to terminate what he deems an “extremely unreasonable” policy by the Biden administration. This policy, originally proposed last year as an environmental initiative, aimed to gradually reduce the use of single-use plastics in federal government dining services, events, and packaging by 2027, with an expansion to all federal operations by 2035.
However, there may be deeper considerations behind Trump’s move. According to an analysis by The New York Times on the same day, this action is closely tied to Trump’s long-standing energy policy stance. During last year’s campaign, Trump frequently chanted “drill, baby, drill,” expressing clear support for the oil and gas industry, along with a policy orientation towards deregulation and accelerated approvals.
The report further points out that Trump’s push for the federal government to revert to plastic use could indirectly boost the fossil fuel industry. Plastic production is highly dependent on fossil fuels, particularly oil. With the United States recently becoming the world’s largest producer and exporter of oil and natural gas, this policy shift undoubtedly aligns with Trump’s energy agenda.
It remains unclear whether Trump intends to fully reverse the Biden administration’s broader policy on phasing out single-use plastics or if this reversal is limited to plastic straws. The White House has not immediately provided a clear response. Nevertheless, Trump’s new policy has already sparked widespread discussion about his underlying intentions and motives.