EA R4 (2025-2026): Single-Use Plastic Phaseout

Acknowledged by the President

• Resolution:
  EA R4 (2025-2026): Single-Use Plastic Phaseout
• Day:
  June 24, 2026
• Action:
  Acknowledged by the President
• Summary / Notes:
• File Attachments:
• Text Attachment:

   

  Dear Carl,

  Thank you to Wendy and the Employee Assembly for conveying R4: Single-Use Plastic Phaseout. I appreciate and value the commitment expressed by the Employee Assembly to sustainability and to advancing Cornell’s leadership in environmental stewardship, health, and community well-being. I also agree that Cornell can and should substantially reduce our use of single-use plastics, and am supportive of this Resolution.

  The Resolution covers a wide variety of use cases on our campuses, including health care, laboratories, events, facilities, and other operational setting where single-use plastics are commonly deployed, and anticipates likely necessary exceptions associated with health and safety requirements, existing contractual obligations, alternative product availability, financial costs, and operational impacts, among others.

  In order to effectively transition to this new policy, I am forming a campus-wide taskforce that will bring together students, faculty, staff, operational units, sustainability experts, and other stakeholders. This group will work collaboratively to assess campus needs, review viable alternatives, engage vendors, and ensure that any plan is both environmentally sound and operationally practical. I anticipate that this group will have initial recommendations by the end of this academic year.

  While we may not be able to accomplish a complete transition within the proposed five-year phase-out timeline, there are many steps already underway, and we can continue to make meaningful progress as the taskforce recommendations take shape. Cornell Dining, for example, is actively engaging with SUNY sustainability leaders and peer institutions to learn from their experiences. This is in addition to several successful initiatives they have already launched including reusable containers and beverage programs, as well as adjustments to packaging in concessions and catering. These programs demonstrate our ability to make significant strides, but to have greater impact, we should generate campus-wide participation and a thoughtful approach that fully considers the impacts across all settings.

  The administration is committed to partnering in this work and supporting policies that will lead to a meaningful reduction in single-use plastics. We see this resolution as an important catalyst to engage the entire campus in developing a viable, equitable, and sustainable solution.

  Sincerely,

  Michael Kotlikoff