Chinese plastics association is latest to join battle against marine debris
The China Plastics Processing Industry Association (CPPIA) has become the latest trade organisation to sign up to an industry-wide programme to prevent plastic pellets ending up in marine environments.
CPPIA officially signed on to participate in ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ (OCS), a product stewardship programme of US trade association, SPI, and the American Chemistry Council at a ceremony at Chinaplas 2015 after SPI had the agreement translated into Mandarin.
“Keeping plastic resin pellets out of our oceans and reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean overall will take international collaboration and commitment, and CPPIA’s participation in OCS is a crucial piece of that puzzle,” said SPI Senior Vice President of Industry Affairs, Patty Long.
“The OCS framework is not a rigorous regulatory burden, but a set of simple rules and procedures that companies all over the world can implement to help eliminate pellet loss. We hope CPPIA’s decision to join results in every Chinese processing company’s decision to take the OCS pledge and do their part to eradicate plastic debris from our oceans.”
In addition to SPI and the American Chemical Council, CPPIA joins the British Plastics Federation, Plastics Europe and 15 other international members of the OCS programme. Collectively, these associations represent nations responsible for approximately 430,023 kilometers (267,203 miles) of the earth’s coastline.
“Marine debris is a global problem that requires a global solution. By increasing the number of industry partners promoting the best practices contained in the OCS framework, and increasing the geographic areas where OCS is being implemented and companies are taking the OCS pledge, SPI and the global plastics industry is making real progress toward the goal of zero pellet loss,” said SPI Senior Director of International Affairs and Trade Michael Taylor.
“CPPIA represents the entirety of China’s robust plastics processing industry, and their pledge to become the 18th global trade association charged with promoting OCS fills a gap that needed filling. Their participation will move the entire plastics industry closer to the goal of zero pellet loss.”