China Plastics Processing Industry Association joins battle against marine debris

China Plastics Processing Industry Association (CPPIA) became the latest trade association to join Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) with the signing ceremony hosted just before Chinaplas 2015. CPPIA’s decision to join means the association will promote OCS, a product stewardship program administered by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association (SPI) and the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) designed to prevent plastic resin pellet loss and help keep pellets out of the marine environment, among its membership of Chinese plastics companies, and throughout China as well. “Keeping plastic resin pellets out of our oceans and reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean overall will take international collaboration and commitment, and CPPIA’s participation in OCS is a crucial piece of that puzzle,” said SPI Senior Vice President of Industry Affairs Patty Long. “The OCS framework is not a rigorous regulatory burden, but a set of simple rules and procedures that companies all over the world can implement to help eliminate pellet loss. We hope CPPIA’s decision to join results in every Chinese processing company’s decision to take the OCS pledge and do their part to eradicate plastic debris from our oceans.” “Marine debris is a global problem that requires a global solution. By increasing the number of industry partners promoting the best practices contained in the OCS framework, and increasing the geographic areas where OCS is being implemented and companies are taking the OCS pledge, SPI and the global plastics industry is making real progress toward the goal of zero pellet loss,” said SPI Senior Director of International Affairs and Trade Michael Taylor. “CPPIA represents the entirety of China’s robust plastics processing industry, and their pledge to become the 18th global trade association charged with promoting OCS fills a gap that needed filling. Their participation will move the entire plastics industry closer to the goal of zero pellet loss.” OCS is administered in the U.S. by SPI and ACC. In addition to CPPIA, the remaining 17 international members of OCS are: The British Plastics Federation, The Canadian Plastics Industry Association, Fédération de la Plasturgie (France), Plastics New Zealand, La Asociación Nacional de Industrias del Plástico, A.C. (ANIPAC) (Mexico), All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association, Plastics SA (South Africa), PET Product & Closure Manufacturers Association (Nepal), The Danish Plastics Federation, ASIPLA (Chile), Costa Rica, Plastics Europe, Brazil, Japan Plastics Industry Federation, Ecuador, The Philippines, Egyptian Plastic Exporters & Manufacturers Association (EPEMA)