APR endorses global commitment to eradicate plastic waste
Effort to guide sustainability of plastics in the circular economy
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) recently signed a global commitment to eradicate plastic waste andpollution at the source. APR, the international trade associationrepresenting the plastics recycling industry, joins 250 other organizations toendorse The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment led by The Ellen MacArthurFoundation, in collaboration with the UN Environment, that was officiallyunveiled at the Our Ocean Conference in Bali this week.
"This Global Commitment is a hugestep forward in the effort to create a global vision for a true circulareconomy for the plastics industry," commented Jaime Camara, CEO of PetStar andChair of The APR Board of Directors. "We are pleased with this effort, and welook forward to working with the Foundation and their New Plastics Economyprogram."
Signatories include companiesrepresenting 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally. Targets include:
· Eliminateproblematic or unnecessary plastic packaging, and move from single-use to reusepackaging models.
· Innovateto ensure 100% of plastic packaging can be easily and safely reused, recycled,or composted by 2025.
· Circulatethe plastic produced by significantly increasing the amount of plastics reusedor recycled and made into new packaging or products.
Eliminating unnecessary andproblematic plastics is an essential part of the Global Commitment vision, andwill make it easier to keep remaining plastics in the economy and out of theenvironment.
"While APR has endorsed the GlobalCommitment, brands that committed have targets to achieve. These are reviewedevery 18 months," commented Steve Alexander, APR President and CEO. "Welook forward to working with those companies to create a ‘new normal' forplastic packaging that embraces recyclability. APR testing protocols andthe APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability are tools brand owners canutilize to help them in that effort."
Click here for more informationabout The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.
