The COVID-19 pandemic is testing the balance between sustainability and human safety on a global scale. After more than six years of momentum for banning a variety of single-use plastic types, the pandemic brought many of these achievements to a standstill. On December 15, 2020, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a panel of experts that explored the pandemic’s repercussions for overconsumption of single-use plastics. This Dialogue presents a transcript of the discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations.