Plastic Pollution: Etica Sgr is lending its support to “A line in the sand – The New Plastics Economy”, a global agreement to eliminate the problem at source. The signatories number around 250, including many of the leading manufacturers of plastic packaging and large multinational companies, governments, institutions, universities, and NGOs.
“The proper use of resources is of increasing importance, in terms of the effects on biodiversity,” comments Aldo Bonati, Corporate Engagement and Networks Manager of Etica Sgr, “less than a month after joining, Etica Sgr has already entered into a dialogue with European multinationals in the industrials and food and beverage sectors to present its initiative and proposal for making concrete and quantified commitments for reduction and reuse.”
Plastic pollution – the numbers
Researchers estimate that, from the 1950s to the present day, more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced. About 60% of the total ended up in landfill or, even worse, in the environment.
More than 99% of plastic was made from chemical derivatives of petroleum, natural gas and coal – all non-renewable resources.
At this rate, by 2050, the plastics industry could account for 20% of the world’s oil consumption, much of it subsequently going back into the environment.
Main campaign objectives
The campaign aims to combat plastic pollution by proposing a new global standard for packaging. There are basically three objectives.
- To eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and switch from single-use packaging to reusable models.
- To innovate and ensure that by 2025, 100% of plastic packaging can be reused, recycled or composted in a simple and safe manner.
- To circulate the plastic produced by significantly increasing the quantities of re-used or recycled plastic and converting it into new packaging or products.
The path is by no means simple or straightforward, which is why the signatories have undertaken to produce an annual report and have set themselves interim objectives to ensure maximum transparency.
Unity is strength
The campaign against plastic pollution is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and with the support of the WWF and the World Economic Forum.
Among the signatories to the agreement there are a large number of multinational companies that produce 20% of all the plastic packaging produced worldwide. Packaging is certainly not the only source of plastic-related pollution, but a third of plastic is used for the packaging of goods.
The world of finance also plays its part
The agreement was also signed by more than 15 financial institutions with more than $2.5 trillion of assets under management, including Etica Sgr.
With 5 venture capital funds committed, $200 million was allocated to create a circular plastics economy.
For more information on the initiative: newplasticseconomy.org.
Environment Plastic pollution
