PODCAST: What’s Next for the U.S. Plastics Pact? | Crystal Bayliss

Episode Title: What’s Next for the U.S. Plastics Pact? | Crystal Bayliss

Guest: Crystal Bayliss, Executive Director of the U.S. Plastics Pact

Summary:

In this episode, Cory Connors sits down with Crystal Bayliss, Executive Director of the U.S. Plastics Pact, to unpack a pivotal year for the organization. Crystal shares how a sustainability sign on an office water cooler sparked her personal journey from food and ingredient procurement into packaging sustainability, and how that path led her to the Pact — first as a member representative, then as a program manager, and eventually to the organization’s top leadership role. Cory and Crystal dig into the departure of major member companies ahead of the 2025 targets, why the original goals were always meant to be a “blank sheet of paper” starting point, and what comes next as the Pact rolls out new, more flexible ways for companies to engage. The conversation also covers the recent leadership transition at the Pact, the case for voluntary industry action paving the way for smart regulation, and the newly released Film & Flex Circularity framework tackling one of packaging’s most contentious materials.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Crystal’s path from procurement into plastics sustainability and up through the U.S. Plastics Pact
• Why major brands (Walmart, Mars, Mondelez, Nestlé) stepped back from the Pact ahead of the 2025 deadline
• The reality behind the 2025 targets: only ~50% of packaging reusable/recyclable/compostable and 11% recycled/bio-based content achieved, against 100% and 30% goals
• New, more flexible engagement tiers coming soon for Pact members with narrower packaging portfolios
• The recent CEO transition and Crystal’s move from Director of Strategy & Engagement to Interim CEO to Executive Director
• Voluntary industry action vs. mandatory regulation, and how the Food Safety Modernization Act offers a precedent
• California’s SB 54 and the Pact’s role advising policymakers
• The new “Journey to Film & Flex Circularity” framework and the unique challenges of flexible film packaging
• Atlantic Packaging’s circular stretch film recycling system in North Carolina
• What gives Crystal hope for the future of sustainable packaging amid regulatory uncertainty

Resources Mentioned:

• U.S. Plastics Pact
• Journey to Film & Flex Circularity: A Framework of Necessary Design, Collection, and End Market Levers
• California SB 54, Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act
• FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Initiative

Contact:

Listeners interested in learning more about the U.S. Plastics Pact or its upcoming membership options can visit usplasticspact.org.

Closing Thoughts:

Cory and Crystal emphasize that while the road to a circular plastics economy has proven far more complex than anyone anticipated, the collaborative model behind the U.S. Plastics Pact remains essential to getting there. They encourage listeners to stay engaged in the conversation, even when progress feels slow or contentious.

Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors!

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