PLASTICS & ENVIRONMENT
Industry groups sign up to global marine litter pact / Group changes name to “Global Plastics Alliance" / Projects in place worldwide to tackle problem
 The Global Plastics Alliance brings together local, regional and global stakeholders in the fight against marine litter (Photo: PIE) |
Seven industry associations have joined the "Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter" (www.marinelittersolutions.com). The new partners in the group, which is also known as the Joint Declaration, were announced at the “27th Global Meeting on Plastics and Sustainability” that took place in Hanoi / Vietnam, on 12 December.
Steve Russell, vice president Plastics for the American Chemistry Council (ACC, Washington DC / USA; www.americanchemistry.com), said the signatories bring perspectives from countries in Asia and Africa, or types of plastic not previously represented. Delegates at the meeting also agreed that, going forwards, the group will be known as the Global Plastics Alliance.
The additional organisations include the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA, Arlington, Virginia / USA; www.fibersource.com), the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BPGMEA, Dhaka / Bangladesh; www.bpgmea.org.bd), the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA, Annapolis, Maryland / USA; www.flexpack.org), the Ghanaian Plastics Manufacturers Association (GPMA, Accra / Ghana), the Myanmar Plastics Industries Association (MPIA, Yangon / Myanmar; www.plastics-myanmar.in), the Indonesian Olefins, Aromatics and Plastics Association (INAPLA), and the Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA, Ho Chi Minh City / Vietnam; www.vpas.vn).
“Addressing marine litter issues effectively requires that we bring local, regional and global stakeholders together. Broadening our fold helps us find new partners and opportunities to tackle this very serious problem,” said Karl-H. Foerster, executive director of PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.org).
Callum Chen, secretary general of the Asia Plastics Forum, added that the industry is currently involved in hundreds of marine litter prevention programmes around the world. As of May 2016, the Joint Declaration had 260 projects planned, underway or completed (see Plasteurope.com of 20.06.2016).
Launched in March 2011 (see Plasteurope.com of 24.03.2011), the declaration has been signed by 69 plastics associations to date. It is focused on six key areas: education; research; public policy; sharing best practices; plastics recycling/recovery; and plastic pellet containment.
Steve Russell, vice president Plastics for the American Chemistry Council (ACC, Washington DC / USA; www.americanchemistry.com), said the signatories bring perspectives from countries in Asia and Africa, or types of plastic not previously represented. Delegates at the meeting also agreed that, going forwards, the group will be known as the Global Plastics Alliance.
The additional organisations include the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA, Arlington, Virginia / USA; www.fibersource.com), the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BPGMEA, Dhaka / Bangladesh; www.bpgmea.org.bd), the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA, Annapolis, Maryland / USA; www.flexpack.org), the Ghanaian Plastics Manufacturers Association (GPMA, Accra / Ghana), the Myanmar Plastics Industries Association (MPIA, Yangon / Myanmar; www.plastics-myanmar.in), the Indonesian Olefins, Aromatics and Plastics Association (INAPLA), and the Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA, Ho Chi Minh City / Vietnam; www.vpas.vn).
“Addressing marine litter issues effectively requires that we bring local, regional and global stakeholders together. Broadening our fold helps us find new partners and opportunities to tackle this very serious problem,” said Karl-H. Foerster, executive director of PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.org).
Callum Chen, secretary general of the Asia Plastics Forum, added that the industry is currently involved in hundreds of marine litter prevention programmes around the world. As of May 2016, the Joint Declaration had 260 projects planned, underway or completed (see Plasteurope.com of 20.06.2016).
Launched in March 2011 (see Plasteurope.com of 24.03.2011), the declaration has been signed by 69 plastics associations to date. It is focused on six key areas: education; research; public policy; sharing best practices; plastics recycling/recovery; and plastic pellet containment.
16.12.2016 Plasteurope.com [235798-0]
Published on 16.12.2016