February 04, 2019

The $1 billion attempt to end plastic waste is laudable

located:	Kenya
editor:	Bob Koigi

In what remains to be the world’s largest attempt at addressing plastic waste, close to 30 global companies, a majority in the plastics value chain, have come together to launch an end plastic waste movement and invested $1 billion to chaperon initiatives that eliminate waste in the environment and oceans.

The new partnership dubbed The Alliance to End Plastic Waste comes as data shows that up to 8 million tonnes of plastic waste are dumped in seas each year, with catastrophic effect on aquatic life. Up to one million seabirds die each year as a result of ingesting plastic with 90 percent of the surviving birds having pieces of plastic in their stomachs.

The United Nations estimates that more than 800 species in the world are affected by marine waste, 80 percent of it being plastic. It affects the food chain in the sea; foods that we ultimately consume. A majority of this plastic waste is the result of litter dumped on land that travels by rivers. Studies indicate that up to 90 percent of this kind of waste in the world comes from 10 major rivers in Asia and Africa. This is precisely why the multifaceted approach, set by the new alliance that has invested in research on modern recycling technologies, infrastructure for collecting and recycling waste, and targeting areas where plastics originate from is a welcome move.

The attempt has come on the heels of another groundbreaking project, The Flipflopi Movement, that has seen children and coastal communities in Kenya collect more than 10 tonnes of plastic waste and transform it into a 9-metre sailing dhow, which has now started its maiden voyage across the world with the 'end plastics in oceans' message.

While these initiatives, albeit coming late in the day, have started on a high note and received global attention, the focus should now be on ensuring they maintain the momentum as more players come on board. Despite the criticism the Alliance to End Plastic Waste has received by some quarters for not being genuine in ending plastic manufacturing, the fact that there is an effort at joining forces to tackle one of the greatest threats of our time is a step in the right direction. Because every day another piece of plastic finds its way into the environment is another death warrant we are signing.

Read our expert's article PLASTIC: SHOULD IT STAY, OR SHOULD IT GO?

Photo: flickr/Bo Eide/cc

Call to Action

Ditch throwaway plastic packaging!

Support now