Massachusetts Governor Signs Executive Orders Banning State Purchases of Single-Use Plastic Bottles and Establishing Biodiversity Goals

BOSTON, MA. – Today, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed two landmark executive orders championing vital environmental causes. The first marks the implementation of the nation’s first ban on single-use, plastic bottle purchases by state agencies. The second requires ambitious biodiversity goals to be achieved by 2030, 2040, and 2050. Each executive order will help to reduce pollution that disproportionately affects environmental justice communities in the commonwealth by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving the state’s natural allies in the climate fight: its ecosystems.

Single-use plastic bottles are made of benzene-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) made from fossil fuels. Although recyclable, just 29% of the 50 million plastic bottles Americans use annually ever make it to the recycling bin. While Healey's executive order bans state agencies from purchasing single-use plastic bottles, over 25 Massachusetts towns and cities have also adopted municipal or retail bans since the Town of Concord adopted the country's first retail bottled-water ban in 2012. 

Read more on Single-Use Plastic Bottles Here.

By reducing the amount of single-use plastic in state buildings and agencies, Massachusetts will decrease the prevalence of non-biodegradable PET plastic bottles in the state’s landfills. A cut to single-use plastic bottles will also mean less risk of wildlife exposure to dangerous litter across the state’s land and waterways. 

The second executive order requires a full review of existing conservation efforts, with the aim of setting new, ambitious biodiversity conservation goals and strategies for 2030, 2040, and 2050. The established goals will work to ensure equitable access to nature and protect wildlife,  including the 432 Massachusetts plant and animal species deemed endangered, threatened, or of special concern.  

Read more on Marine and Freshwater Conservation Here.

In addition to providing habitats and areas for recreation, the commonwealth’s natural spaces also aid in decarbonization efforts by capturing and storing carbon that pollutes the air and endangers public health. Expanding the state's wildlands is also an effective and prudent strategy to support biodiversity. The executive order tasks state agencies, including the Department of Fish and Game, with developing plans for achieving the newly established goals. 

In response to the executive orders, Vick Mohanka, Sierra Club Massachusetts Acting Director, released the following statement:

“The vast majority of used, fossil-fuel-based plastic bottles either land in our state’s landfills or are littered across the commonwealth’s natural ecosystems. We hope this initiative will inspire people across the state to choose tap water, which is the most economical and sustainable alternative. We are experiencing a global biodiversity crisis linked to the global climate crisis. We welcome not only the review of current efforts but also ambitious and comprehensive goals and strategies to preserve biodiversity throughout state government. We look forward to working with the administration to implement these timely policies.”

Celia Doremus, Chair of Sierra Club Massachusetts, also issued the following statement:

“This is a bold step Governor Healy is taking to ban plastic bottles in the Commonwealth’s government buildings and agencies. The message is clear and loud that we are serious about our addiction to the use of toxic plastic, and we are committed to freeing ourselves from the nightmare we have created from plastic pollution. The Sierra Club stands right behind the administration and its promise to begin the journey to a plastic-free state and lead us to a healing environment.”