Kamaaina often hear the phrase “buy local” when it comes to produce, meat and other food products. Buying local supports Hawaii’s farmers, food producers and manufacturers, and promotes food security. It’s also better for the environment when your food comes from the local farm or factory instead of shipped 3,000 miles.

Bill 40, which proposes a ban on all plastic food packaging starting in 2021, will devastate the local food industry. It demands too much, too fast, without giving companies time or resources to find suitable alternatives that aren’t prohibitively expensive. It will have far-reaching effects on organizations that serve, package or sell food to the public, like hospitals and kupuna meal programs. It also threatens food safety, because plastic materials keep perishable foods safe and lessen contamination risks.

Because the bill targets foods processed in Hawaii, mainland brands will not be affected, meaning they will continue to import products wrapped in plastic to our state. They will enjoy an unfair advantage in the marketplace while local companies will have to raise prices to account for increased costs. Many residents will find that their favorite local products are no longer affordable or not available at all.

The vast majority of single-use plastic comes from imported foods, not our local food industry, so Bill 40 will barely scratch the surface of eliminating plastic as intended. However, the economic and social costs of Bill 40 will be profound. Hundreds of jobs will be lost, family breadwinners will have no replacement work and dozens of businesses will close their doors.

Fresh, locally sourced, locally made products will become a scarcity. Hawaii will lose the fabric of its food culture when crack seed manufacturers, mom-and-pop snack shops, and iconic local brands disappear. Instead of local taro and ulu chips, customers will be stuck with mainland brands. Spam musubi made fresh daily will be replaced by imported snacks.

Proponents of the bill say that giving up plastic is an easy transition to alternatives such as bioplastic. Unfortunately, bioplastics do not decompose in landfills — they must be composted in an industrial composting facility (which Hawaii does not have and has no plans to build). If bioplastics make their way to the ocean, they break down into micro pieces and last for decades, which is just as bad for the environment. We can’t consider these alternatives without thinking through where they end up and their potential impact on the environment.

The City Council says businesses will be able to apply for an “undue hardship” exemption every year, but this only forces companies to operate in a constant state of uncertainty. The language is vague when it comes to defining how exemptions will be determined. Businesses will not know whether they should invest in expanding or purchasing new equipment if their exemption could be revoked the next year. And if the Council already plans on giving exemptions, why pass this bill in the first place?

We all agree that limiting plastic should be a priority for our state, but the alternatives that are currently available simply don’t support a total ban on plastics.

We ask that the City Council vote “no” on Bill 40 and work with the local food industry and business community to come up with a better solution, one that doesn’t discriminate against local businesses and prevent customers from buying local products they love. A phased approach could allow a smooth transition without wreaking havoc on Hawaii’s food industry.

Bill 40 is an attack against Hawaii businesses, food industry employees and entrepreneurs. And sadly, local consumers will pay the price.

Jason Higa, head of Zippy’s Restaurants; Paul Kosasa, CEO of ABC Stores; and Jenai Wall, CEO of Foodland, are part of a coalition of local businesses concerned about Bill 40, including Hawaiian Host, Hawaiian Chip Company, Halm’s Enterprises, Aloha Tofu Factory and La Tour Bakehouse.