Citing foreign media reports, in June this year, the Association of Plastics Industry Engineers in the rolling molding conference, Chevron Philips Chemical Company (chevron Phillips Chemical) injection and rolling Technology Service manager Jon Ratzlaff said that because of fracking,
America's oil and gas industry is booming, but the problem of marine plastic waste will be a big challenge for the industry. ' You may remember the old saying that the world would catch a cold when the OPEC sneezes. And today, when OPEC sneezes, America gives them a napkin, ' Ratzlaff said. This is because shale gas fracking has made the United States and Canada a major energy hub.
In North America, natural gas is used to make ethylene, ethylene can be polymerized into polyethylene, and polyethylene is by far the most commonly used plastic molding material. ' It's a good time for the plastics industry to develop. For the United States and Canada, this is an extremely important opportunity, ' ratzlaff changed, ' But the sea Beach plastic pollution is a serious problem.
' ' I bet everyone of you can now feel the pain of ocean plastic pollution, because social media is bombarding you with these stories. ' Young people grow up in social media, Ratzlaff said: ' The young people who are coming in and we need to hire are very aware of that.
' That's why companies need to get involved in the problem, Ratzlaff says. First, he suggested looking at the www.thisisplastics.com website set up by the Plastics Industry Association.
He encouraged processors to become ' educational ambassadors ', to listen to stakeholder opinions, and to use data to illustrate the plastics industry's situation and solve the problem. ' While recruiting young people, you need to tell them that you are responsible. ' said Ratzlaff. The pollution of plastic waste is a man-made problem, which is caused by human's irresponsible littering of plastic waste. This is also a problem for the third world, where poorer developing countries often lack proper waste disposal, allowing plastic waste to enter streams and rivers and eventually into the ocean. But he also said that a strong ban on straw or plastic bags is not the solution, ' the prohibition is not a good choice.
' An important industry initiative is that the World Plastics Commission is already supporting the improvement of waste management solutions, including an initiative of closed Loop Company, which focuses on improving waste collection and recycling in south-East Asia.
The initiative is part of the marine protection and waste-free ocean treaties, and some plastics companies and trade associations are actively supporting the Treaty. Ratzlaff said that all parts of the world are making their own efforts. India has developed asphalt used as raw material for crushing waste plastics. ' Every third-world country has plastic trash on its beaches, and every third-world country needs asphalt. ' ' he said. A young Dutch inventor raised millions of of dollars to fund flotation equipment to help collect plastic waste from the ocean and launched a non-profit organization called Ocean Cleanup.