Two South African industry organisations and plastics producer Kainotomia Polymers have signed the Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) pledge in which they commit to preventing resin pellet, flake and powder loss to reduce the amount of plastic ending up in rivers and oceans.

The Association of Rotational Moulders of Southern Africa (ARMSA), the Expanded Polystyrene Association of Southern Africa (EPSASA) and Kainotomia Polymers signed the pledge.

The OCS initiative is a global campaign by plastics leaders to reduce plastic pollution in oceans and rivers. Plastic pollution is a significant environmental problem that affects marine life and ecosystems. Ingesting plastic items, such as pellets, can harm the ability of seabirds, turtles and fish to breathe, swallow or digest food properly.

“While the public is responsible for proper recycling and disposal of consumer products and packaging, the responsibility to contain plastic pellets firmly rests on the shoulders of the plastic industry. To this end, Plastics SA has been promoting OCS to the industry, developing resource materials for its members, and implementing systems aimed at containing plastics,” said Plastics SA sustainability director Douw Steyn.

Plastics SA is also a signatory of the Declaration of the Global Plastics Association for Solutions on Marine Litter, which was launched in 2011. This has since grown to a global declaration and public commitment made by more than 77 plastics industry associations to address the issue of plastics in the marine environment and includes OCS as a stewardship project supported by the Global Plastics Alliance, he added.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that our industry is sustainable and that our products do not end up polluting our environment. ARMSA members are committed to implementing best practices to prevent plastic pellet loss and ensure that our industry operates in an environmentally responsible manner,” said ARMSA chairperson Gary Wiid.

“As an industry, we recognise the importance of taking responsibility for our impact on the environment. By signing the OCS pledge, we are committed to implementing measures to prevent plastic pellet loss and protect our oceans and marine life. Signing the OCS pledge is a step in the right direction towards achieving this goal,” said EPSASA chairperson Mike Myers.

“We are committed to minimising our impact on the environment and are proud to join the OCS initiative. We believe that, by working together, we can create a more sustainable future and reduce the negative impact of plastic pollution on our environment,” said Kainotomia Polymers MD Albert Gildenhuys.

“Plastic pollution is a growing problem that affects the health of our oceans and the marine life that lives in them. By signing the OCS pledge, ARMSA, EPSASA and Kainotomia Polymers have shown their commitment to reducing plastic pollution and protecting our environment. Plastics SA applauds their commitment and encourages other companies to join the OCS initiative to create a more sustainable future for us all,” Steyn concluded.