Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) appeared to have limited public engagement with climate policy in the US in 2022-24. The association supported science-aligned climate action in its top-line messaging, however with some exceptions, and engaged with some specific climate-related policies in the US with a mix of unclear and supportive positions.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) engaged broadly positively in its top-line messaging on climate policy in 2022-24. The association clearly supported the science of the IPCC in its 2024 Sustainability Report, published in October 2024, and consistently supported GHG emissions reductions in line with the 1.5°C target on its website, accessed in October 2024. However, President & CEO of ACI, Melissa Hockstad, appeared unsupportive of President Biden’s manufacturing agenda which includes elements related to climate, emphasizing threats to competitiveness and growth in a June 2023 press release.
Engagement with Climate-Related Policy: The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) engaged with broadly unclear positions on climate-related policies in 2022-2024. The association supported implementing circular economy policy in line with the waste hierarchy on its website, accessed in October 2024. However, in comments submitted on the EPA's Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution in July 2023, the ACI supported government regulation on circular economy with several conditions, advocating for the reduction of single-use or unrecyclable plastics "to the greatest degree possible". On its website, accessed in October 2024, ACI did not seem to support the current US Renewable Fuel Standard, however without disclosing a clear position on how it would amend the policy.
Positioning on Energy Transition: The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) had limited public engagement with policy related to the energy transition in 2022-24. The association appeared supportive of President Biden's goal to decarbonize the power sector by 2035 on its website, accessed in October 2024.