Recently, Unilever Global CEO Poll called for the consumer staple industry to step up efforts to actively cope with the ever-increasing challenge of marine plastic waste, helping to achieve a recycling economy of plastics.
A study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that plastic equivalent to a loading truckload is being poured into the ocean every minute and plastic is expected to weigh more in the ocean than the fish by 2050. At present, only 14 % Of the used plastic packaging is collected into the recycling process.
In January 2017, Unilever was the first in the industry to commit to 100% recyclable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging for its products by 2025. One year later, 10 peer companies made A similar commitment.
Polman said: 'We are pleased to see many companies have promised to deal with the issue of plastic waste into the ocean, however, the consumer staple industry needs to do more and faster changing single-use plastic products status quo , We need to move from a linear consumer development model of 'get-make-dispose' to a truly design-driven, circular economy. '
Unilever believes that the consumer goods industry needs to take action in the following four areas to create systematic changes and accelerate the transition to a recycling economy:
Businesses invest in innovative shipping modes to promote reuse.
More businesses are committed to 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025 and set challenging targets for using recycled plastics materials.
Establish a 'Global Plastics Use Specification' to establish consensus and industry standards on which materials will enter the market, and to ensure that product packaging is compatible with existing affordable recycling infrastructure.
Enterprises actively participate in government-related policies and regulations and actively advise on the improvement of the waste management infrastructure, including issues such as the implementation of the producer responsibility extension (EPR).
Polman added: "It is our common responsibility to deal with the problem of polluting the oceans by plastic waste, and all stakeholders in the value chain must work together to find effective solutions." The response from the consumer goods industry is undoubtedly crucial Importantly, our actions will determine the speed at which the status quo will change, and the moment is at a critical juncture.
Unilever made good progress in reducing the footprint of its waste by 28% in product disposal-related waste and 15% in product packaging weight loss since 2010. Unilever achieved global reach in 2015 Within the non-hazardous solid waste zero landfill.
In addition to its commitment to 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging for its products by 2025, Unilever will also add at least 25% recycled plastics to its packaging by 2025 and the use of recycled plastics by 2020 Before the release of the overall plastic use plan.
Unilever announced its technological progress in 2017 and can use its Creasolv technology to process multi-layer bags, and Unilever is building a pilot plant in Indonesia to explore the commercial viability of the technology. Unilever is interested in incorporating this technology Open source to the whole society, and industry partners, other peer companies, including competitors to share, in order to achieve the recycling of plastic packaging economies of scale.