Plastics Pollution; Saved by the Covid?

Plastics are made from petrochemicals. The extraction of oil, of course, has a major role in 'climate change'. Plastics are, however, also very much pollutants in their own right. Prior to the Covid19 pandemic, the plastics producers were seriously worried about their industry's image. Plastics pollution of the the oceans, was the dominant story. Plastics were suddenly persona non grata (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/24/how-the-plastic-industry-turned-the-pandemic-to-its-advantage). Things, however, changed with the Covid19 pandemic. The general public were reminded that plastics are essential for many healthcare and hygiene products. The resulting attitudinal change has enabled the plastics industries to 'push back' against e.g. legislation to ban single use plastics. A number of countries (but not the EU) have reversed earlier bans. That's all very well but the recent mass of worrying data on microplastics must have an impact on legislation. The production of 'new' plastics should be minimal and its reuse maximised. The plastics industry needs to be strongly regulated, rather than operating in their 'wild west' fashion.