GLOBAL PLASTICS INDUSTRY EFFORT TO COMBAT MARINE LITTER GROWS IN 2016

Seven New Industry Associations Join the “Joint Declaration”; 
Group Will Operate as the “Global Plastics Alliance” Going Forward

HANOI, VIETNAM (December 12, 2016) – Seven new signatories were added to The Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter, also informally known as the “Joint Declaration” in 2016. New participants include the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA), the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BPGMEA), the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the Ghanaian Plastics Manufacturers Association (GPMA), the Myanmar Plastics Industries Association (MPIA), the Indonesian Olefins, Aromatics and Plastics Association (INAPLA), and the Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA).

“We’re excited to welcome each of these new partners, who bring perspectives from countries in Asia and Africa, or types of plastic not previously represented in our Joint Declaration” said Steve Russell, Vice President, Plastics, American Chemistry Council, at the 27th Global Meeting on Plastics and Sustainability in Hanoi, Vietnam. At the meeting, delegates also agreed that going forward the group will become the “Global Plastics Alliance.”  

Delegates from 17 countries and four continents participated in the Global Meeting – making this the largest and best attended meeting to date.

“Addressing marine litter issues effectively requires that we bring local, regional and global stakeholders together,” said Karl-H. Foerster, Executive Director of PlasticsEurope. “Broadening our fold helps us find new partners and opportunities to tackle this very serious problem.”

“Plastic producers from around the world are coming together to keep used plastic out of the environment, and to further improve the sustainability of these energy and resource efficient materials. The strong participation at this meeting demonstrates that this industry is committed to providing solutions to ensure a more sustainable future” said Callum Chen, Secretary General of the Asia Plastics Forum. “Together, as a united, global industry, we’re involved in hundreds of marine litter prevention programs in all regions of the globe,” added Chen.  “But there is still much to do. Growing our ranks helps further grow our work.” 

The Global Declaration was launched in March 2011 at the 5th International Marine Debris Conference.  Today, the Declaration has been signed by 69 plastics associations from regions across the globe. Recognizing their important role in fighting marine litter, these plastics associations have launched and are supporting projects in six key areas aimed at contributing to sustainable solutions. The six focus areas of the Global Declaration are education, research, public policy, sharing best practices, plastics recycling/recovery, and plastic pellet containment.   

In May, leaders from plastics organizations across the globe announced that there were approximately 260 projects planned, underway or completed.

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To download the press release, please click here. 

Press contacts:

Americas:          
Allyson Wilson +1 (202) 249-6623                                                                         
Allyson_wilson@americanchemistry.com 

Europe:                
Nuria Buezas Sierra +32 (0) 2 676 17 57                                                               
Nuria.buezas@plasticseurope.org  

Middle East:        
Dima Horani +971 (4) 451 0666 Ext. 109                                                              
Dima@gpca.org.ae 

About PlasticsEurope
PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. We are networking with European and national plastics associations and have more than 100 member companies, producing over 90% of all polymers across the EU28 member states plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. The European plastics industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare in Europe by enabling innovation, creating quality of life to citizens and facilitating resource efficiency and climate protection. More than 1.5 million people are working in 60,000 companies (mainly small and medium sized companies in the converting sector) to create a turnover above 340 bn EUR per year. The plastics industry includes polymer producers – represented by PlasticsEurope, converters – represented by EuPC – and machine manufacturers – represented by EUROMAP. For further info see the web links: www.plasticseurope.org, www.plasticsconverters.eu, www.euromap.org. Visit http://www.plasticseurope.org/ 

About the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division
The American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division represents leading companies dedicated to providing innovative solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow through plastics.  Ongoing innovations from America’s Plastics Makers™ have led to medical advances and safety equipment that make our lives better, healthier and safer every day. And advances in plastics are helping Americans save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease waste.  Because plastics are such a valuable resource, the Plastics Division is leading efforts to “reduce, reuse, recycle and recover,” including through outreach, education and access to advances in recycling technology. Visit www.plastics.americanchemistry.com.

About the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) represents the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Established in 2006, the association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95% of chemical output in the Arabian Gulf region. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing up to US$108billion worth of products a year. Visit http://www.gpca.org.ae/.

About the Asia Plastics Forum
The Asia Plastics Forum (APF) was formed in 1991 and currently comprise 12 member countries – Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. APF was established primarily to share and exchange information of the plastics industry concerning amongst others, the economics and issues related to the plastics industry. Recently, APF’s focus is addressing the misplaced perception of plastics on sustainability via the global network.