World Plastic Council supports G-7 Leaders’ plan to tackle marine litter

The World Plastics Council (WPC) has endorsed the recent plan to reduce marine litter made by the leaders of the G-7.

At its recent summit in Germany, the leaders defined a bold action plan to reduce marine litter, as well as underlining the importance of improving countries’ systems for waste management, reducing waste generation, and encouraging reuse and recycling.

Commenting, Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, newly elected Chairman of the World Plastics Council and Executive Vice President, Polymers SBU, SABIC, said marine litter is “a global challenge which requires a global response.”

“The plastics industry is contributing a number of concrete solutions to this global challenge. One of these solutions is the Operation Clean Sweep programme which is currently being rolled out, globally and along the value chain”, said Al-Fageeh.

The World Plastics Council, formed at K 2013, represents the world plastics industry including Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, and Europe.

It was devised to act a a forum for industry leaders to “accelerate cooperation and alignment and to deliver improved outcomes for the benefit of society and the global plastics industry.”

The WPC says it is committed to contribute to solutions to the global marine litter challenge. As an example, it is supporting action implementation initiatives like the global Marine Litter Solutions Coalition. Founded in 2011, this coalition represents 60 associations in 34 countries and supporting more than 180 projects. It is also contributing to the Global Partnership on Marine Litter of the United Nations Environment Programme.

“The plastics industry is successfully contributing to reducing the loss of plastic pellets. We are pleased that the G-7 leaders have recognised this as an important measure,” Al-Fageeh concluded.