The China Plastics Processing Industry Association (CPPIA) has made public its commitment to protecting the health of the world's oceans by joining forces with Operation Clean Sweep (OSC).
Marine debris
OSC is administrated by the SPI in the US and the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council and is designed to prevent plastic resin loss and to help keep pellets out of the marine environment.
The Chinese organisation made its support of OSC's work clear in a ceremony held at this year’s ChinaPlas after initially registering its interest in the scheme in 2012.
Michael Taylor, SPI Senior Director of International Affairs and Trade, said: "Marine debris is a global problem that requires a global solution. CPPIA represents the entirety of China’s robust plastics processing industry and their participation will move the entire plastics industry closer to the goal of zero pellet loss."
CPPIA now joins 17 other organisations who have already signed up, including the British Plastic Federation and Plastics Europe.
Patty Long, SPI Senior Vice-President of Industry Affairs, said: “Keeping plastic resin pellets out of our oceans and reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean overall will take international collaboration and commitment and CPPIA’s participation in OCS is a crucial piece of that puzzle.
“The OCS framework is not a rigorous regulatory burden, but a set of simple rules and procedures that companies all over the world can implement to help eliminate pellet loss,” adds Long. “We hope CPPIA’s decision to join results in every Chinese processing company’s decision to take the OCS pledge and do their part to eradicate plastic debris from our oceans.”
