Aluminum, Plastic, and a Whole Lot of Policy Nonsense: What Recent Tariffs Mean for Sustainable Packaging

Here we go again—another round of policy decisions that hit small businesses the hardest while the big guys find ways to pivot (or profit). This time, it’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, and the ripple effect is making its way straight to the packaging world.

If you run a zero-waste business, sell anything in a can, or just care about how your products are packaged, buckle up. The latest moves in Washington are yet another reminder that where we source materials and how we package goods is never just a business decision—it’s political, economic, and environmental all at once.

Coca-Cola’s Convenient Pivot (Because They Can)

Let’s start with Coca-Cola, because when a company this massive sneezes, the whole industry catches a cold. Their CEO, James Quincey, recently hinted that if aluminum cans get too expensive (thanks to the new 25% import tariff), they’ll just use more PET plastic bottles instead. Because, you know, when faced with a challenge, why not lean harder into a material that already floods our landfills and oceans?

To be fair, Coca-Cola isn’t alone in this. For businesses big and small, packaging costs are always a factor. But for zero-waste businesses, this is exactly the kind of “solution” that feels like a step in the wrong direction. If corporations are quick to swap one extractive material for another based purely on price, what does that mean for those of us actually trying to build a better system?

What This Means for the Rest of Us

The Can Manufacturers Institute is, predictably, losing its mind over these tariffs, warning that higher aluminum and steel costs will push consumer prices up. And they’re right—this is how it works. Big policy shifts like this don’t hit billion-dollar brands nearly as hard as they hit small producers, independent businesses, and (of course) consumers.

Meanwhile, anyone committed to reducing plastic waste is now watching a slow-motion disaster unfold. If more businesses start opting for plastic because it’s cheaper, we’re looking at a future where an already broken recycling system gets pushed even further past its limits.

So What Now?

For small, sustainability-focused businesses, this is a wake-up call—again. Here’s what we can do:

1. Get Creative with Packaging – Aluminum and PET aren’t the only options. Glass, paper-based solutions, and refillable models need to be on the table more than ever.

2. Talk to Your Customers – If packaging prices shift, don’t leave people in the dark. The more consumers understand why their favorite products are making changes (or why prices are creeping up), the more likely they are to support sustainable choices.

3. Push for Real Policy Solutions – This tariff mess is just another example of why we can’t afford to ignore local and state-level policy. Waste management and most related legislation comes from the State. Support candidates who actually get the link between supply chains, sustainability, and fair business practices. This requires getting involved enough to know how to even go about asking those questions.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about the price of a can or a bottle. It’s about who holds power in supply chains, who gets squeezed when policies shift, and how we fight for a system that isn’t just built on short-term profit margins.

Because if there’s one thing we know, it’s that when the market shifts, big business always finds a way to protect itself. The rest of us? We have to work together, stay ahead of the game, and keep proving that a better way is possible.