Global plastics industry commits to reducing marine litter

by Media Services on 19 Nov 2011 Representatives from the global plastics industry met in Dubai this week to discuss the topic of marine litter and to formulate initiatives for tackling the issue.

The meeting identified approximately 100 related projects across 32 countries, in addition to the global activities supported by all signatories to a global action plan.

The ‘Declaration for Solutions on Marine Litter’, which has so far been adopted by 54 plastics industry organisations, outlines a six-point strategy for industry action and advocates close cooperation with a broad range of stakeholders.
Philip Watkins, president of the British Plastics Federation, said the meeting was 'a great step forward by these plastics industry representatives through committing to the global action plan for solutions on marine litter'.

'The global plastics industry is determined to do its part and to play a constructive role in building new partnerships to shape solutions to the issue of marine litter,' he added.

Wilfried Haensel, executive director of PlasticsEurope said the meeting was 'a great step forward by these plastics industry representatives through committing to the global action plan for solutions on marine litter'.

Patrick Thomas, president of PlasticsEurope and CEO of Bayer Material Sciences added: 'The global plastics industry is determined to do its part and play a constructive role in building new partnerships to shape solutions to the issue of marine litter.'

In the six-point strategy outlined in the Declaration, the industry will:
• Work in public-private partnerships aimed at preventing marine debris
• Work with the scientific community to better understand the scope, origins and impact of marine litter and the range of solutions to the problem
• Promote comprehensive science-based policies and enforcement of existing laws to prevent marine litter
• Promote best practices in waste management, particularly in coastal regions
• Enhance opportunities to recover plastic products for recycling and energy recovery
• Steward the transport and distribution of plastic resin pellets and products to its consumers and promote this practice along the supply chain.

The activities undertaken by the global plastics industry will be publicly available at: www.marinelittersolutions.org. The website has been launched in English, and will over time display the content in different languages. Other North American plastics associations—including the Canadian Plastics Industry Association and SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association—also attended this week’s global meeting.

More at www.marinedebrissolutions.com and http://www.marinedebrissolutions.com/Declaration