Sustainable solutions for global marine litter pollutions
Marine debris or litters can be defined as all persistent, manufactured, or processed solid materials disposed of or abandoned over coastal and marine environments. Within marine debris, plastics constitute the dominant pollutant item. Its distribution ranges from the world’s most remote beaches, floating in the middle of the ocean, the deep seabed, and inside aquatic animals, to frozen within the polar ice. The detrimental impacts of plastics are largely associated with its high persistence (complete mineralization that takes place after hundreds or thousands of years), the formation of toxic substances, and their ability to act as a vector for contaminants. Its effects have prompted governments, private enterprises, environmental groups, and countless citizens to act.
In March 2011, leaders from 47 plastics associations across the globe signed a declaration to combat the causes of ocean debris. The Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter (Global Declaration) represented a public commitment by a global industry to tackle a global problem: plastic debris in the coastal or marine environment. Recognizing that plastic waste in the environment is unacceptable and that everyone has a role in fighting marine litter, these industry leaders identified six work areas for initiatives aimed at contributing to sustainable solutions: education, research, public policy, sharing best practices, plastics recycling/recovery, and plastic pellet containment. As of early 2020, 80 plastics associations from 43 countries have signed the Global Declaration, and approximately 395 projects have been planned, underway, or completed.
Commitments made under the Global Declaration
1. Contribute to solutions by working in a public-private partnership aimed at preventing marine debris. This work area is focused on education. Raising awareness of the problem and highlighting steps people are taking to combat it can help change behavior that results in marine littering. Sample projects include:
Indonesia: MASARO – Meaning “Zero Waste Management,” MASARO includes multiple projects that both raise awareness of the plastic waste/marine debris issue and implement local solutions. The Indonesian plastics industry contributes to programs that help communities separate waste at home, segregate the collected waste, connect to high-value plastic recycling markets, and convert lower value plastics to fuel, which removes garbage from the waste and litter streams.
2. Work with the scientific community and researchers to better understand and evaluate the scope, origin, and impact of solutions to marine litter. This work area is focused on research. Additional research will help determine the actual impacts of plastic marine debris, how and why the marine debris enters the ocean, and how to prevent it. Sample projects include:
Europe/Global: Plastic Flow Study – To determine the sources of plastic marine litter, six organizations in the plastic value chain commissioned a study to investigate the global flows of plastics, including the handling of post-consumer plastic waste. The study is designed to provide both the basis for additional future investigations and to help document progress in global waste management.
3. Promote comprehensive science-based policies and enforcement of existing laws to prevent marine debris. This work area is focused on advocating for effective public policy. Government policies and the way they are enforced have a massive impact on the prevalence of litter in the oceans. Advocating effective and efficient policies and effective waste management can spur cleanups and support marine litter prevention. Sample projects include:
Philippines: Support for Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 – Multiple plastics industry leaders serve on local solid waste management boards to develop the mechanics for implementing policies that contribute to sustainability and effective solid waste management, in support of the mandate of the national waste management act. Industry representatives are endorsed by local government agencies in the National Capital Region and serve as a representative of the recycling, manufacturing, or packaging industry.
4. Help spread knowledge regarding eco-efficient waste management systems and practices, particularly in communities and countries that border our oceans and watersheds. This work area is focused on sharing best practices. Sharing successes and knowledge will help the industry, government and other stakeholders understand what works to prevent marine litter. Sample projects include:
Ghana: TALK-PLAST/West Africa Plastic Waste and Marine Litter Conference 2019 – Sponsored by the Ghana plastics association and the World Plastics Council, the conference helped mobilize collective efforts to create best practice solutions to plastic waste management in the West African sub-region. The conference resulted in action plans and protocols for policymakers and the plastics value-chain to manage plastics at the source, preventing plastics from entering the natural environment.
5. Enhance opportunities to recover plastic products for recycling and energy recovery. This work area is focused on recycling and recovering plastics. This initiative will keep plastics out of the waste and litter streams, as well as saves valuable resources, conserves energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Sample projects include:
India: Expansion of Successful Recycling in Indore – Several state plastics associations are helping build on a successful recycling initiative in the city of Indore by supporting expansion to other cities, including the collection and recycling of plastic waste. Instead of rotting in streets, Indore now converts nearly all of its waste into something useful, such as compost, fuel, fertilizer, roads, and recyclables.
6. Steward the transport and distribution of plastic resin pellets and products from supplier to customer to prevent product loss and encourage customers to do the same. This work area is focused on plastic pellet containment. Many types of plastics are sold as small pellets that companies use to make products and packaging. If spilled or released into the environment during manufacturing or transportation, these pellets are unsightly and can be mistaken for food by wildlife, so containing pellets to reduce their loss is critical. The Society of the Plastics Industry in 1992 created an initiative in the USA to minimize pellet loss called Operation Clean Sweep that focuses on proper containment of plastic pellets. Manuals and tools designed to improve good housekeeping practices were made broadly available to companies throughout the USA that handle plastic pellets, including resin producers, transporters, bulk terminal operators, and plastics processors.
It is apparent that more people are becoming aware of the major environmental problems caused by marine debris, especially plastics. The standard responses involve cutting down plastic waste at the source, beach cleanups, use of the circular economy, education, and a reduction in packaging, among other solutions. Knowledge, prevention, mitigation, removal, and behavioral change are the key mandates involving a host of measures. Collaboration from all including government agencies, private enterprises, environmental groups, and countless citizens is the key to a successful solution of marine debris.