Americans would support the National Park Service ending sales of single-use plastic in national parks

Washington, DC, January 14, 2022 — A new public opinion survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Oceana, shows Americans agree that single-use plastics have no place in national parks, and they would support a decision by the National Park Service to stop the sale and distribution of single-use plastics in national parks.

Detailed Findings

About four in five Americans have visited a national park (78%) at least one time. Americans want to see national parks remain free from plastic trash (83%), including 57% of registered voters who strongly agree that national parks should remain free from plastic trash.

• Three-quarters of Americans (76%) say that single-use plastic items have no place in national parks, and three in five report that seeing plastic trash in a national park would negatively impact their visit (63%).
• Nine in ten Democratic registered voters (90%) and three-quarters of Republican registered voters (78%) say that it is important to them personally that national parks remain free of plastic trash. Eighty-two percent of Democratic registered voters and 70% of Republican registered voters agree that single-use plastic items have no place in national parks.

Four in five Americans (81%) and registered voters (82%) alike say they would support a decision by the National Park Service to stop selling and distributing single-use plastic at national parks, including a majority of registered voters (51%) who would strongly support such a decision.  

• Both Democratic registered voters (90%) and Republican registered voters (73%) would support a decision by the National Park Service to stop selling and distributing single-use plastic in national parks.

About the Study

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between November 5-9, 2021 on behalf of Oceana. For this survey, a sample of roughly 1,005 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii, was interviewed online in English. This survey includes interviews of 1,005 Americans, The sample includes 839 registered voters.

The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel, partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Post-hoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education for the national sample.

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all Americans. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,005, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-5.0 percentage points). The poll also has a credibility interval plus or minus 3.9 percentage points for registered voters. For more information on this news release, please contact:

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson
Senior Vice President, US
Public Affairs

[email protected]

Kate Silverstein
Media Relations, US
Public Affairs
+1 718 755-8829
[email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third-largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts, and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions, and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers, or employees. We serve more than 5,000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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