PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT
Industry initiative Operation Clean Sweep expands presence to 65 countries / 2023 Global Impact report
By Plasteurope.com Correspondent
Operation Clean Sweep (OCS, Brussels; www.opcleansweep.eu) – the international initiative for companies to achieve zero loss of plastic granules, pellets, flakes, and powders – has reported its growth into over 65 countries across six continents, scaling 22 active OCS programmes, involving around 5,000 member companies.
Operation Clean Sweep (OCS, Brussels; www.opcleansweep.eu) – the international initiative for companies to achieve zero loss of plastic granules, pellets, flakes, and powders – has reported its growth into over 65 countries across six continents, scaling 22 active OCS programmes, involving around 5,000 member companies.
 Operation Clean Sweep now has around 5,000 member companies (Photo: PantherMedia/endewer1.mail.ru) |
In its latest 2023 Global Impact Report, OCS also reported launching OCS Malaysia. “In 2023, more than 300 new companies joined an OCS programme and more than 50 countries across Europe implemented data reporting that follow OCS requirements,” it added. OCS Europe, OCS Turkey, and OCS Blue – the US OCS programme – launched external inspection programmes in the same year.
The industry initiative also reports having published the first-ever Guide to International OCS Programmes, with an overview of each individual programme, highlights of activities from which are included in the latest report. The European leg of the OCS also launched a certification scheme mid-year and saw 22 facilities being certified.
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In 2023, OCS United States launched the OCS Blue verification programme, a mandatory external inspection approach for material suppliers and converters in the programme. “More than 65 OCS Blue verifiers were trained and approved to conduct external inspections. Data reporting increased in frequency from annually to quarterly,” the report said, adding that 25 companies and 100 new facilities joined OCS Blue in the year. The number for the UK was on par, with 26 companies joining in.
The initiative, administered by US trade organisation Plastics Industry Association (Plastics, Washington, DC; www.plasticsindustry.org) and the plastics division of compatriot American Chemistry Council (ACC, Washington, DC; www.americanchemistry.com), promotes best practices and provides technical guidance and tools for member companies to implement pellet-loss-prevention measures.
— Edited by Somya Abrol
10.05.2024 Plasteurope.com [255194-0]
Published on 10.05.2024