SUSTAINABILITY
An Alliance Between Major Global Companies to Manage Plastic Waste
I
n January 2019, about thirty major
to join us”, explains David Taylor, CEO of
river systems all over the world and
global companies belonging to the
Procter&Gamble and President of AEPW.
found that just ten rivers transport
petrochemical and plastic sector signed
AEPW is a not-for-profit organization,
more than 90% of plastics to the ocean.
a collective agreement to take action
partnering with the finance community,
The rivers all have two common traits:
against the pollution caused by plastic
government and civil society, including
a generally high population living
waste, founding the Alliance To End Plastic
environmental and economic development
in the surrounding region, in some
Waste (AEPW).
NGOs.
cases hundreds of millions, and a lack © Alliance To End Plastic Waste
In modern society, plastic is a matter of global interest and its use is often the focus of heated debates. It is a true modern dichotomy: if on the one hand it brings several advantages
of adequate waste management systems and infrastructure. The problem comes from the Asia, where billions of people
- a lower production and
have finally had the
usage costs, it is light and
possibility of using
hygienic, it preserves food
previously inaccessible
without contaminating it and
goods. However, this
can be used in various fields
has produced a large
and sectors – on the other, it
quantity of plastic waste
causes one of the most serious pollution. To counter the global issue
such as containers,
1
and widespread forms of
packages and bottles
Figure 1: Origin by country of unmanaged plastic waste in 2010 (metric tones).
that are dispersed in the environment. In fact, while developed
arising from the dispersion of plastic in the environment, especially in
“History has shown us that collective
countries have waste collection
the marine one, about thirty corporations,
action and partnerships between
and recycling services, the newly-
including BASF, Covestro, Clariant, Dow
industry, governments and NGOs can
industrialized countries have not yet
and DSM, have joined under the aegis of
deliver innovative solutions to a global
adopted waste management systems.
Alliance To End Plastic Waste, investing
challenge like this. The issue of plastic
Plastics provide many critical sanitary,
more than $ 1 billion with the goal of
waste is seen and felt all over the world.
safety, health preservation and
allocating $ 1.5 billion over the next five
It must be addressed and we believe the
convenience benefits. Even as we work
years to fight against plastic waste.
time for action is now”, says Bob Patel
aggressively to reduce plastic waste in
“Everyone agrees that plastic waste does
(LyondellBasell), vice-president of AEPW.
the environment, we must maintain the
not belong in our oceans or anywhere in
critical benefits that plastics bring to
the environment. This is a complex and
Facts about plastic waste
serious global challenge that calls for
Research conducted by Ocean Conservancy
world. With a thoughtful, comprehensive
swift action and strong leadership. This
shows that almost 80% of plastics that
and strategic approach, Alliance To End
new alliance is the most comprehensive
end up in the sea comes from land-based
Plastic Waste aims to do both.
effort to date to end plastic waste in the
sources and is transported by rivers.
environment. I urge all companies, big and
Scientists of the Center Helmholtz for
For further information:
small and from all regions and sectors,
environmental research have studied 57
www.endplasticwaste.org
people and communities around the
international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 - N. 55
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