Marine Litter in View of Plastics Producers

Dr. Rüdiger BaunemannKonferenz Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Hamburg, 24. März 2012

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Central Europe• Germany

- Switzerland- Austria- CZ, H, SK, SLO

• Poland- Baltic Countries

Northern Europe

Western Europe

Mediterranean Iberica

PlasticsEurope

Materials and Evolution of civilisation

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Includes Thermoplastics, Polyurethanes, Thermosets, Elastomers, Adhesives, Coatings and Sealants and PP-Fibers. Not included P ET-, PA- and Polyacryl-Fibers

World Plastics Production 1950 - 2009

Source: PlasticsEurope Market Research Group (PEMRG )

20090

50

100

150

200

250

300

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Mio t

1950: 1.5

Europe(WE + CE)

1976: 50

1989: 100

2002: 200World

2009: 230

2009: 55

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1980 2005 2015e

Total World

4530

11

1610

3

Middle EastAfrica

136

99

40

Western Europe

24

48

9

Central Europe & CIS

32

21

7

Latin America

NAFTA

139

105

46

Japan

108

89

50

220

36

Asia w/o Japan

* demand equals processed volumes, data in kg per capita

2.8%

3.2%

4.3%

4.1%

7.3%

1.9%

6.0%

4.1%CAGR in % 2005 – 2015e

Source: PlasticsEurope Market Research Group (PEMRG )

World Plastics Materials Per Capita Demand *

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Packaging

Building &Construction

Automotive

E & E

Others

Other Thermo-plastics

LDPE, LLDPE

HDPE PP PS EPS PVC ABS, SAN

PMMA PA PET PUR

Total: 45.0 Mio t

40,1%

20,4%

7,0%

5,6%

26,9%

Source: PlasticsEurope Market Research Group (PEMRG )

Europe Plastics Demand* by Segments 2009

* EU27+N, CH incl. Other Plastics (~5.4 Mio t)

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Our concern

• Plastics are durable and persistent in the environment, therefore plastics litter in any environment is unacceptable

• Plastics can bring sustainable solutions provided that their use is supported by:

− Appropriate policies

− Infrastructure

− Consumer behaviour

7

• The plastic industry must work in partnerships, as a responsible stakeholder, contributing with its expertise and resources to shape solutions across society for zero littering.

• Our vision: A society where waste is no longer reaching our oceans and is properly handled and recycled or recovered.

120323, Marine Litter in View of Plastics Producers

4 examples of initiatives

1. MarineLitterSolution project

2. Contribution to GESAMP Assessment

3. Knowledge transfer of waste management practices

4. Prevent pellets losses

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1. Marine Litter Solutions

• International Plastic Industry coalition requiring active national players to ensure success and outreach

• We will:− Initiate and deliver actions to shape solutions for marine litter by

ourselves or with other committed external allies in partnership− Raise the awareness of the impact of marine litter in the environment

among our international plastic industry

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Declaration on Marine Litter

56 Signatories

34 Countries Represented

The 6 focus areas of the declaration are:

1. Contribute to solutions by public private partnershipsaimed at preventing marine debris

2. Work with academia to better understand scope, origins and impact of waste in sea and to find solutions

3. Promote comprehensive science-based policies and enforcement of existing laws to prevent marine litter

4. Spread knowledge about eco-efficient waste practices in principle,particularly in communities and countries with coastal regions

5. Enhance opportunities for recycling and energy recovery

6. Steward transport and distribution of plastics resins and products from supplier to customer to prevent product loss

www.marinedebrissolutions.org/global

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More than 100 actions undertaken

Europe/Gulf/Africa 45 %

America 31 %

East Asia/India/Australia

24 %

11120323, Marine Litter in View of Plastics Producers

MarineLitterSolutions project:

• Active in different regions, e.g. in Germany: land-sourced litter project of Ökoinstitut Darmstadt, commissioned by BKV

• Global website: www.marinelittersolutions.org

2. GESAMP Assessment of the impact of micro-plastics in the marine environment

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GESAMP (The JointGroup ofExperts on theScientificAspects ofMarine EnvironmentalProtection)

Advisory body of the United Nations system on the scientific aspects of marine environmental protection

Content of the project: Terms of Reference

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5. Uptake by biota and biological impacts

1. Estimate rates of inputs of micro-plastics (resin pellets, abrasives, personal care products) and plastics (including main polymer types); involves developing methodology, using monitoring data, identifying proxies (e.g. population centres, shipping routes, tourism revenues).

2. Modelling transport, distribution & areas of accumulation.

3. Processes (physical, chemical & biological) controlling the rate of fragmentation and degradation, including estimating long-term behaviour.

4. Modelling continues using inputs from 1 and 3

UNIDOIMO

UNEPIOC -UNESCO

NOAAPlasticsEurope

ACC

2012

2015

3. Knowledge transfer of waste management practices

− The waste value chain consists of 5 key steps

− Action on: prevention, collection, quality recycling and energy recovery

− Implementation plan

− Brochure and video: too valuable to throw away

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• Globally, most of marine litter is land sourced and we believe that landfills and a land-filling mentality in our society contribute substantially to marine litter.

• Eliminating landfills will prevent part of the marine litter and a proper waste collection will also contribute to increase the awareness of the consumer about litter.

⇒ Strategy on Plastics Waste Management

Post-consumer plastics management in Europe (EU-27+CH/NO) 2010

> 80% recovery

> 50% recovery

> 20% recovery

< 20% recovery

Source: Consultic 2011

EU average: 58% recovery

9 top countries: CH, DE, DK, SE, AT,BE, NL, NO, LU

Below average: outer regions(15 countries landfill more than 60%)

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Knowledge Transfer Project

• Contribute to sustainable waste management of end-of-life products containing plastics by utilising its material and energy resources

• Focus on countries according to country assessment

• Todays focus is France, Poland, Spain and UK (further countries evolve)

• Use the know-how about plastics waste management andmake it effective locally

- Establish relationships with stakeholders in value chain

- Support to dialogue and networking

- Contribute to information and education

- Use communication channels (conferences, media, publication etc.)

- Provide technical support

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Too valuable to be thrown away

arabic,

english,

french,

german,

polish,

portuguese,

spanish

www.youtube.com/watch?v=82-Yz8MbxA0

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4. Prevent pellet losses

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4. Prevent pellet losses

1 kg polymer equals approx. 50,000 pellets150,000 t/factory57 Mt polymer produced in Europe46 Mt plastics demanded by converters in Europe

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Conclusions

• Global effort to increase the awareness among our industry around the world

• Product stewardship

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• We are committed to be part of the solution− Learn about marine litter− Promote best policies and improve plastic waste management− Increase the awareness of our society about marine litter