'Collaboration on Marine Litter Essential', says BPF

Speaking at a conference on 'Ocean Plastics- Consequences and Solutions', in Falmouth on Monday, BPF Director-General, Philip Law told the audience that a wide range of other stakeholders must work with the plastics industry in helping to limit the presence of used plastics in the oceans.

He said that "The plastics industry is one part of the supply chain and is often several stages removed from a product's final disposal.  All interested parties,both commercial and voluntary, must act together''.  He added that the BPF, alongside other industry partners, is active in the Marine Litter Action Network (MLAN) which is co-ordinated by the Marine Conservation Society.

He said that some parties had suggested the application of deposit systems to keep packaging off beaches but he believed that it would add to society's costs, effectively creating two parallel collection systems. In any event it would only address a part of packaging, he added.

To those who advocated the use of biodegradable plastics as a solution he warned that this was a very complex field which does not lend itself to early generalisation.  He said that whilst there are some excellent applications for these materials, there is debate in the industry over the extent to which they are compatible with the recycling of conventional plastics.  Degradability as a concept, he said, might actually encourage littering.

In his keynote presentation to the Conference he said that "the most fruitful solution to this highly complex issue rests on more education about littering in schools, more rigorous enforcement of laws and punishments against dumpers and litterers, and a greater provision of collection facilities in parts and on beaches".
He said that the plastics industry recognises that this is an issue which needs to be addressed and that it wants to be part of the solution. However other key stakeholders should be active and work in a    co-ordinated way including the shipping lines, port authorities, local authorities, brand owners, retailers and schools.

ENDS

For all media enquiries, BPF logos and images please contact Laura Hindley, Communications and Industrial Issues Executive on [email protected] or 0207 457 5043

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.