Over 60 companies are now signed up to Operation Clean Sweep

The BPF have been continuing to encourage members to pledge their support for Operation Clean Sweep. In the last week Craemer UK Ltd, Roberts Mart & Co Ltd, McLaren Plastics Ltd, Romold Ltd and Pulse Flexible Packaging have all signed up Operation Clean Sweep. This brings the total number of companies signed up to 62. Many of these companies represent more than one site in the UK and therefore the total number of sites represented by these commitments is over 165.

Operation Clean Sweep is an industry led program to ensure plastic pellets, flakes and powders are contained within facilities and do not escape to the environment. The programme is design to help companies to identify potential plastic pellet, flake and powder loss areas in their facilities. Once identified changes are made to the worksite to help with containment and ensure spills can be cleaned up effectively and efficiently. The programme encourages staff engagement and giving staff responsibility for spills within their area of the facility.

Next month a consultation on the proposed ban on microbead will be released. As part of this there is a call for evidence for other products which release microplastics into the marine environment as well as other products that containing microbeads.

Operation Clean Sweep is seen by government and NGOs as a measure of the industry’s commitment to pellet loss. It is therefore important that even more members pledge their support for Operation Clean Sweep and ensure that there is no escape of plastic pellets, flakes or powders from your facilities.

To find out more about Operation Clean Sweep and to sign up please contact Helen Jordan ([email protected] 0207 754 5015) or visit www.operationcleansweep.co.uk.