Back in the day, when Big Tobacco was under fire, they used a number of tactics aimed to minimize the negative impact of anti-smoking movements and public health concerns. For example, research that downplayed the health risks of smoking, creating doubt in the public mind. Their ads sometimes depicted the industry as victims, unfairly targeted by legislation, trying to gain sympathy. Doctors were even endorsingcertain brands as better for your throat!

With growing concern about the effect of plastics on our environment, is the same thing happening in the plastics industry? I can see parallels in the ads that are running on TV. For example, America’s Plastic Makers are running an ad entitled Imagine a future where plastic is not wasted. And there is a group called MadeToBeRemade that is touting the fact that a growing number of beverage bottles are made from recycled plastic without requiring any feedstock. These are great visions, but the question is whether it is “green hustling” or even “greenwishing.” More on these below.

And then there’s America’s Plastic Makers, whose ad we cited above. They state, “Innovation has made plastic vital to modern life. Medical grade plastic for surgeries. Personal protective equipment for ourselves and our caregivers. Lightweight plastic in our electric cars. Energy saving insulation in our homes.” True. But are they the best solutions?