HI SR52

Requests the Governor to endorse the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and United Nations Environment Programme's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to reduce plastic waste.

Directs the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop and publish targets to achieve the commitment's goals and implement policies to meet those targets.

Commitment aims to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging, encourage reuse, incentivize recyclable and compostable packaging, increase waste collection and sorting, stimulate demand for recycled plastics, and support behavioral change.

Addresses Hawaii's particular vulnerability to plastic pollution, citing Kamilo Beach on Hawaii island as one of the most plastic-polluted places globally, contaminated with high volumes of plastic waste.

Notes that one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute globally and over five trillion plastic bags are used annually, with sixty percent of all plastics produced since 1950 ending up in landfills or natural environments.