Historic treaty to stop plastic pollution

The decision was taken at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya. World leaders have until 2024 to agree on the terms of the treaty, which will include rules for the production, use and disposal of plastics.

-This is a milestone and will oblige countries to reduce the use of disposable plastic and to ensure more circular solutions, says Camilla Bjerkli, Sustainability Director at BEWI.

Plastic pollution is a global problem. In the oceans alone, it’s estimated that there are more than five trillion pieces of plastic and eight million are added annually. The global yearly plastic production amounts to around 400 million, of which eight million tonnes are single-use plastic.

The sheer amount causes harm to animals and the environment, not least because many kinds of plastic take years for nature to break down.

The treaty will include legally binding elements and address economic factors such as helping countries in the global south to tackle plastic pollution caused by the global north.

At BEWI, we support the initiative and hope this will lead to an increased awareness that can help accelerate actions towards a more circular plastic economy. We’re determined to lead the change to a circular economy and have a target to collect the equivalent of our annual high turnover products, which is 60,000 tonnes of EPS annually.

-Last year, we doubled our collection and recycling capacity and are collecting 33 per cent of our high turnover products, and that’s a very good start, says Camilla Bjerkli.

BEWI can’t reach our target without collaboration, which is why we’re working on raising awareness and establishing partnerships that allow us to collect and recycle.