New Campaign Launched to Tackle Marine and Beach Litter

Plastics 2020 Challenge to look for solutions for tackling waste on the UK’s beaches

Poll shows public place most blame on beachgoers and tourists

Plastics manufacturers and producers today announced a new initiative to tackle the problem of littering in the seas, as part of the Plastics 2020 Challenge.

Welcomed by the Marine Conservation Society, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to protecting seas, shores and wildlife, the campaign will call for a thorough investigation of the problem of beach and ocean litter.

Members of the public can go to the website www.plastics2020challenge.com and have their say as to the problems that litter, particularly plastic litter, is causing in the marine environment, report the worst local problem areas, and suggest possible solutions.

The Marine Conservation Society has agreed to work with the Plastics 2020 Challenge in launching this debate. MCS volunteers carry out regular litter surveys all around the UK’s coast. During the annual Beachwatch Big Weekend last year nearly 60% of litter was plastic and over 380,000 items of litter were picked up on one weekend on 374 beaches.

A new survey commissioned for the Plastics 2020 Challenge and carried out by ComRes shows that almost two in five of the general public (some 38%) blame beachgoers and tourists for littering Britain’s seas and beaches, with only just over one in ten (13%) blaming the packaging industry – the same proportion as hold the sewage and waste companies responsible. Only 2% of people blame the fishing industry.

Peter Davis, from the Plastics 2020 Challenge, said: “Marine litter is a hugely complex, multi-faceted and increasingly serious challenge. However, the simple fact is that waste, whether plastic or other, does not belong in the sea. Litter is primarily a result of human neglect and poor waste management and if we all acted responsibly there would be no reason for the large majority of it to be there.

“Statements like this are easy to make but delivering on such a vision is much harder. That is why the search is on to find practical solutions to marine litter, for the benefit of future generations of mankind and sea life alike. It is a fundamental and urgent challenge for our global society. As an active and concerned member of this global community, the plastics industry is as keen as any to help resolve the issue of marine litter and start making progress towards a day when it is no longer an issue.

“It is essential that there is the right legislative framework in place to deal with this issue globally. We will be approaching the Government to discuss our research and the responses to the public debate.”

Dr Sue Kinsey pollution programme manager for the Marine Conservation Society said: “We welcome the plastics industry taking this initiative to help us push marine litter up the public agenda. While the industry still has a long way to go, something they acknowledge themselves, it is refreshing to see the producers and manufacturers taking a positive approach. We look forward to joining the Plastics 2020 Challenge debate on marine litter and hope the industry can live up to its promises to make significant inroads on its environmental impact by 2020.”

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Notes to Editors:

ComRes telephoned 1,007 GB adults on 28-29 October 2009. Data were weighted to be representative of all adults. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full tables at www.comres.co.uk

The Plastics 2020 Challenge was launched in July 2008 at Westminster with the support of MPs from across the political spectrum. The ground-breaking campaign by the plastics industry was designed to challenge itself, ministers and consumers to set tougher targets on recycling and to stop dumping waste in landfill.

The Plastics 2020 Challenge, backed by MPs from across the political divide, is the first time manufacturers and processors themselves have called for a widespread and open debate and set their own targets for helping make the country greener.

The plastics industry pledged several commitments on the “four R’s” – reduce, reuse, recycle and recover, including a target of doubling the amount of plastics that will be recycled by the year 2020.

The campaign also challenges the government, MPs, environmental groups and consumers to join forces with the industry to save energy and help reduce landfill by getting more out of the resources we all use.

At the time of the launch new research was published showing many local councils admit they will not meet their targets for recycling, suggesting large and unnecessary hikes in council tax bills unless action is taken.

The campaign website www.plastics2020challenge.com was also launched, urging members of the public and interest groups to join the debate in the use and disposal of plastic products and packaging.

The sponsors of the Plastics 2020 Challenge believe that only an honest, open and rational debate on controversial issues will lead to a consensus about how to move forward.

The Challenge was also welcomed by the Local Government Association who attended the launch on 7 July 2009.

The Plastics 2020 Challenge founding members are the British Plastics Federation, PlasticsEurope and the Packaging & Films Association. Together they represent 5,000 small, medium and large enterprises that employ approximately 186,000 people across the UK. The industry’s exports are worth £4.6 billion a year and the UK remains dominant in worldwide markets.

The founding commitments of the Plastics 2020 Challenge are:

MISSION: To lead the UK in diverting plastics from landfill by 2020 in order to reduce climate change impact, address the energy deficit, and achieve a step change in efficient use of resources.

REDUCE: Reduce wastage and environmental impact by continuous innovation of lightweight and high performance plastics materials and products.

RE-USE: Develop new solutions and designs to increase the reuse of plastic products.

RECYCLE: Double plastics packaging recycling by 2020 through working in partnership with value chain and governments to facilitate and promote effective markets, technologies and infrastructure.

RECOVER: Support high efficiency energy from waste techniques for end-of-life plastics where recycling is not an option.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, and protection of marine life. Through education, community involvement and collaboration, MCS raises awareness of the many threats that face our seas and promotes individual, industry and government action to protect the marine environment. MCS provides information and guidance on many aspects of marine conservation and produces the annual Good Beach Guide (www.goodbeachguide.co.uk), the Good Fish Guide and www.fishonline.org on sustainable seafood, as well as promoting public participation in volunteer projects and surveys such as MCS Beachwatch, Adopt-a-Beach and Basking Shark Watch. www.mcsuk.org. As part of the launch of the 2008 Beachwatch report, MCS also produced a backing paper which called for further action from Governments, Industry and the public to tackle the growing menace of marine litter. Go to www.mcsuk.org to see the full text.

Media Enquiries to:

Plastics 2020 Challenge

Paul Kelly 07500 841459
David Cracknell 07703 492993

Marine Conservation Society
Dr Simon Brockington – Head of Conservation - 01989 561595
Dr Sue Kinsey – Pollution Programme Manager – 01989 567807