Entire Plastics Supply Chain and Stakeholders collaborate to solve the issue of plastics waste

The British Plastics Federation’s Marine Litter Platform (MLP) held a successful workshop on Friday 6^th July 2018. The morning session focused upon reviewing design tools and guidelines available to promote design for end of life and to promote best practice in sustainability. The event was well attended from the entire plastics supply chain and stakeholders in a collaborative approach to examine how to ensure a comprehensive approach could ensure reduced plastics waste and improved resource efficiency.

The afternoon session focussed on identifying academic research needs in the marine environment. Professor Thompson from University of Plymouth demonstrated current findings from research on marine litter and the result of a survey of industry with a view to identify future research projects and BPF’S Stephen Hunt presented on education and views were sort from the audience on education on littering in schools as well as reviewing what programs industry was supporting.

BPF's Plastics and Flexible Packaging Group Director Barry Turner stated, “The design workshop identified a number of areas where design tools could be strengthened to ensure resource efficiency and end of life were taken into account as well as recognizing the unique challenges posed in designing products for use on the go”.

Richard Thompson from Plymouth University presented at the workshop and added, “Interest in the issue of plastic pollution is unprecedented. There is now a general consensus on the need for urgent action. Where there is less certainty is in relation to the specific solutions to particular plastic uses and end of life scenarios. In short we need better evidence to inform decisions in Industry and policy as to when it is appropriate to reduce, to recycle, to re-use or to biodegrade. It was incredibly helpful to work with participants at the BPF event and we are now taking some of these ideas forward in a funding proposal for UK Research and Innovation”.

You can now download the slide summary of the event here.