Although this newsletter emphasizes Climate Change and air pollution, we should not forget that plastic pollution of our oceans and waterways costs us greatly. As of 2021:

• Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year for use in a wide variety of applications.
• Over 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. Plastics make up 80% of all marine debris found in surface waters and deep-sea sediments.
• Marine animals ingest or are entangled by plastic debris, which causes a huge number of deaths.
• For humans, plastic pollution threatens food safety and quality, health, and tourism. The continual manufacturing of plastic (fossil fuels) contributes to climate change.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new and existing legally binding agreements to address marine plastic pollution. This means developing disincentives and regulation against single-use plastic, such as to tax retailers who sell items packaged in single-use plastic or ban or discourage the manufacturing of goods packaged in it.

The EU implemented a Directive on single-use plastics, which aims to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. Single-use plastic products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States if sustainable alternatives are available and affordable. This applies to single-use plastic products, such as cotton swabs, cutlery, and straws.

Private enterprise is contributing, too, with over 70 leading businesses and financial institutions calling for a legally binding UN treaty on plastic pollution, presented to the UN Environmental Assembly (UNEA 5.2) on March 2, 2022. A committee has been formed to develop global binding regulations to discourage plastic pollution that:

• Sets a clear direction to align governments and businesses behind a common understanding of the causes of plastic pollution and the danger of such pollution to all societies and a shared approach to address them. Because ocean plastic pollution is a global problem, there should not be a patchwork of rules and solutions, but consistent standards achievable by reasonable practice and cost;
• Includes both upstream and downstream policies, aiming to keep plastics in the economy, where necessary, but out of the environment and reduce virgin plastic production and use; and
• Provides a clear, robust structure to ensure participation and compliance by all.

The goal of the effort is to encourage research and investment to scale innovations and improve implementation in the countries and industries most in need of change.

While CCES does not work in the area of plastic pollution, we can help you in other environmental areas meet and comply with current rules and look for economical ways to be more “green” to impress clients and customers. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.