Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has initiated the Plastic Disclosure Project (PDP) as a means to track and report the amount of plastic used inside businesses, with an end goal of adopting new designs and reducing waste. Launched under his Clinton Global Initiative, and in conjunction with Project Kaisei, ASrIA (The Assn. for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia), and HKUST (Hong Kong University of Science & Technology), the PDP will include an annual survey of companies regarding their use of plastic that aims to "help improve environmental, waste, and health impacts" from the material.
The group likens the PDP to the Clinton Global Initiative's Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and water initiatives, saying the goal of the PDP is to "contribute to transparency in reporting the corporate use of plastic within operations and supply chains, as well as plastics management and governance."
Doug Woodring, cofounder and director of PDP partner Project Kaisei, said in a release, "Plastic and other waste in the ocean has caused a large impact on the environment and ecosystem, much of which is only just becoming understood. It can kill marine life, may be entering our food chain, and can have a negative effect on people's health and safety." Woodring went on to say that he believes global consumption of plastic has outstripped the planet's waste-management infrastructure, adding that some estimates place the percentage of one-time land-based plastic and other waste in the ocean at more than 70%.
PDP's supporters say it will be an investor-led initiative requesting corporations to assess and disclose their production, use, and handling of plastics and plastic wastes. The project partners hope to hold the inaugural survey in first half 2011. Established in 2005 by President Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together global leaders to "devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges."
In response to the announcement, the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Arlington, VA), issued a statement, saying, "America's plastics makers support efforts to increase the efficient use of plastics and reduce waste." The ACC added that new materials and technologies allow for products that reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste. The ACC also stated that studies show that the use of plastics rather than other materials in packaging, auto parts, electronics, and building and construction reduces overall energy use by 57%, and generates 61% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.—mpweditorial@cancom.com
News ReleaseFor Immediate Release September 21, 2010
Contact: Allyson Wilson (202) 249-6623 Email: Allyson_Wilson@americanchemistry.com
Plastic Makers Respond to Plastic Tracking Initiative Launched During Clinton Global Initiative
Project Leaders Urged to Work with Plastics Makers
WASHINGTON, DC (September 21, 2010) – Today representatives from marine research and corporate social responsibility organizations announced a new project that will ask companies to pledge to annually report their use of plastics in an effort to reduce waste. The announcement came as part of the Clinton Global Initiative. Steve Russell, vice president of the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council, which represents the nation’s leading makers of plastics, responded with the following statement:
“America’s plastics makers support efforts to increase the efficient use of plastics and reduce waste. Through exciting new materials and technologies, plastics makers are providing innovative new products that reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and waste, and we look forward to sharing those positive environmental benefits.
“Plastics play a key role in driving sustainability, and delivering business value. Studies show that the use of plastics rather than other materials in packaging, auto parts, electronics and building and construction reduces overall energy use by 57 percent, and generates 61 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
“Companies that make and use plastics have achieved a great deal of success in learning to use plastics materials efficiently. From the lightweight packaging used in milk jugs, to innovations in durable car parts, today’s plastics are stronger, use less raw material and weigh a fraction of what they used to, and more and more of them are being recycled. As the tracking initiative is developed we will work to ensure that project leaders and others can take account for these and other achievements.
Innovations in Plastics Drive Environmental Performance
Since 1991, advancements in the design of different plastic packaging materials have resulted in energy and greenhouse gas emissions savings of nearly 30 percent.
In 2008, the United States recycled more than 4 billion pounds of plastics, enough energy to heat 2.1 million homes.
Plastics have helped to reduce the weight of today’s cars by 450 pounds, which has reduced annual fuel consumption by $20 billion annually.
Recent data show that the energy needed to produce plastics insulation materials is balanced by energy savings within the first 4 month of use. Throughout their life cycle, plastics insulation boards save 150 times more energy than is needed for their production.
the company featured used the pelletiaed plastic that has been discussed here. They pay .50 for 20000 bottles worth. I did not catch how much that was weight-wise.
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