Working together to end plastic waste

To change everything, we need everybody, and the fight against plastic waste is no exception. BASF is proud to be a co-founder of the new Alliance to End Plastic Waste (https://endplasticwaste.org/) – a global, not-for-profit organization uniting nearly 30  companies a single aim: to end plastic waste in the environment.

It is estimated that by 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Recognising that a responsible plastic industry needs commitment from companies at all stages of production and use, members of the Alliance include chemical and plastic manufacturers, consumer goods producers, packaging producers, and waste management companies.

The Alliance is the largest initiative of its kind. Members have committed US$1 billion with the goal of investing US$1.5 billion over the next five years for projects that support innovation, education, waste management infrastructure, and clean-ps.  By pooling resources and sharing knowledge, the Alliance will increase the scale and scope of individual investments and make a lasting positive impact on the environment, marine life and communities around the world.

BASF supports the Alliance’s drive to find solutions that help to solve the world’s plastic waste problem. BASF brings a wealth of experience from its work to create chemistry for a sustainable future.  Its work on Operation Clean Sweep  and chemical recycling show how combining innovative thinking and science can recalibrate traditional processes and deliver a cleaner environment, better health and more efficient resource use, all at once.

At the launch of the Alliance, BASF CEO Dr. Martin Brudermüller said, “We strongly support the aim to reduce plastic waste in the environment. We are co-founding the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, because we want to drive and promote solutions that will effectively help solve the world’s plastic waste problem,” continued Brudermüller. “Plastics are efficient materials that can save resources and enable health, safety as well as convenience benefits for society. These benefits could be contradicted, if plastics and their waste are neither used nor disposed nor recycled in a responsible manner.”

The Alliance is a not-for-profit organization focused on doing four things:

• Developing infrastructure to collect and manage waste and increase recycling;
• Innovating and scaling new technologies that make recycling and recovering plastics easier and create value from post-use plastics;
• Education and engagement of governments, businesses, and communities; and
• Cleaning up concentrated areas of plastic waste, particularly in the major rivers that carry land-based waste to the ocean.

In locations where the Alliance is working, the public should notice an improvement in the state of the environment, which contributes to general quality of life.

The Alliance’s work will also help progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 Goals set out a plan to end poverty, fight inequality and stop climate change by 2030. Read about BASF’s work to support the goals.