British Plastics Federation in Global Plastics Industry Action Plan for Solutions on Marine Litter
Friday, 18 November 2011
Recognizing that solutions to marine litter will require global cooperation, the plastics industry is inviting other interested stakeholders to join in these actions and others to prevent marine litter. Philip Watkins, President of the British Plastics Federation, said the meeting was “a great step forward by these plastics industry representatives through committing to the global action plan for solutions on marine litter,” while Mr Watkins added that “The global plastics industry is determined to do its part and to play a constructive role in building new partnerships to shape solutions to the issue of marine litter.”
The activities undertaken by the global plastics industry will be publicly available at: www.marinelittersolutions.org. The website has been launched in English, and will over time display the content in different languages.
The "Declaration for Solutions on Marine Litter” has been adopted by 54 plastics industry organisations so far. It outlines a six-point strategy for industry action, and advocates close cooperation with a broad range of stakeholders to shape solutions for the marine environment. By way of example, initiatives where our industries already have been involved include: Vacances Propres in France, Keep America Beautiful in the US, Cool Seas in the UK, and the International Coastal Cleanup in South Africa. A full list of British Plastics Federation initiatives on marine litter is below.
Amongst the activities that the industry is implementing within the joint declaration is a partnership with The Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP). GESAMP is an advisory body to the United Nations (UN) system on the scientific aspects of marine environmental protection. The plastics industry has committed to support GESAMP’s effort to evaluate the sources, fate and effects of micro-plastics in the marine environment.
Peter Davis, Director-General of the British Plastics Federation, said: “We are proud to join the GESAMP initiative as one part of our industry’s effort to better understand and prevent marine litter”.
For more information, see www.marinelittersolutions.org / www.bpf.co.uk
Marine Litter actions by the British Plastics Federation
The BPF has been a Member of Keep Britain Tidy and its forerunners since 1997.
In 2009 the BPF with the Packaging and Films Association and PlasticsEurope formed the “Plastics 2020 Challenge” to drive used plastics from landfill by that year.
On the BPF website www.bpf.co.uk under “Recycling and Sustainability” can be found the briefing document “Used Plastics in Marine and Riverine Environments”.
Litter Prevention – Changing Behaviour
With the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) the Plastics Industry piloted the “Bottle Champions” recycling campaign in 30 Primary Schools. Children recycled ten plastic bottles; each brought in the caps as proof and won a brand new sports strip for the school made from recycled plastic bottles. This is part of the MCSs “Coolseas” roadshow.
In 2011 we are sponsoring this successful MCS initiative being extended to 120 schools. Regional media coverage is being achieved.
Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch Survey
In September 2010 and 2011representatives of Plastics Industry Associations took part in beach cleans and surveys organised by the MCS in Scotland and S.W. England.
Microplastics Ingestion by Marine Organisms
The BPF and other plastics industry associations are sponsoring a University of Ghent study on the occurrence of microplastics in mussels and lugworms on the French, Belgian and Dutch coasts – one of the busiest sea lanes in the world. The study is being conducted by Prof. Colin Janssen and has the support of the Belgian Environment Ministry. The Marine Conservation Society has kindly agreed to be on the Steering Group. The study should be completed at the turn of the year.
Operation Clean Sweep – Plastic Pellet & Powder Loss Prevention
Launched by the BPF in 2009 with support from the charity Surfers against Sewage. Operation Clean Sweep is a best practice manual to prevent the loss of plastic pellet raw material into the Environment from factories or in transit. Companies are invited to sign an OCS Pledge and rigorously check their operations. More information on can be seen at www.operationcleansweep.co.uk
Dialogue on Plastics in Marine Litter
On the “Plastics 2020 Challenge” website we conducted an open debate on this issue last year with many ideas discussed. Peter Davis spoke at a debate on this subject at the Royal Geographical Society last October with an audience of 400. The BPF were interviewed on this subject on BBC Radio 4 last year.
Peter Davis representing the BPF and SPRA also attended a Scottish marine litter workshop on 18th February attended by Government, NGO, fishermen and litter prevention representatives, and on 15th April he gave a presentation on preventing plastics in marine litter at the Tay Estuary Forum, Scotland.
Peter Davis attended two meetings with DEFRA Marine Environment staff and the BPF President Philip Watkins attended a Parliamentary Litter group reception in June.
EuPC Trawl Net for Floating Plastics Debris
EuPC has signed an agreement with the inventor of a new trawling net made from plastics and designed to retrieve floating plastics waste in river and coastal waters. Fishermen can use the trawl and catch between 2 – 8 tonnes of marine debris.
There was a successful demonstration in France in May with officials from the EU Fisheries Commission present. The EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki welcomed the trawl which may be eligible for funding. She stated in early May that she wants fishermen paid to catch plastics rather than fish, to provide fishermen with income and reduce pressure on dwindling EU fish stocks. It is hoped Trawls will be sponsored and brought into use. The BPF has helped identify floating waste “hotspots” in the UK.
“Love where you live” New Litter Prevention Campaign
The BPF is a member of the Litter Challenge Group administered by DEFRA and Keep Britain Tidy, and has played a key part in devising this new campaign. The BPF has made LWYL pledges relating to plastics in marine litter. The public launch of LWYL took place on 29th March. The BPF is approaching member companies to become LWYL Partners and Sponsors. LWYL was endorsed in the Government’s June Waste Review.
As an LWYL Founding Partner the BPF participated in the “Croydon Litter clean” in London on 17th October with the Environment Minister present.
ENDS
For all media enquiries, BPF logos and images, please contact Peter Davis, Director-General on 0207 457 5003 or email [email protected]
Notes for editors:
The British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry – representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, distributors, additives suppliers, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.
.png)
