Page 45 - Plastics News April 2020

Eight billion Coca-Cola bottles burnt or Washington governor signs bill to ban single-use
dumped annually says a report plastic bags

new study ashington State will ban thin plastic bags and
Ahas found Wrequire thicker film bags to be made with post-
that around
consumer plastic. Gov. Jay Inslee on March 25 signed
eight billion
Senate Bill 5323, which prohibits stores from giving out
C o c a - C o l a
single-use bags and places an 8-cent fee on paper or
bottles are
reusable plastic bags. What is being called as the
b u r n t o r
victory for the environment, it is said that the 8-cent
dumped every
y e a r i n s i x charge would help stores cover the cost of paper or
d e v e l o p i n g reusable bags and create an incentive for shoppers to
c o u n t r i e s , bring their own bags. The bill also requires reusable film
f u r t h e r bags to incorporate at least 20% post-consumer plastic.
exacerbating That requirement is in place until July 1, 2022, at which
the climate point the minimum increases to 40% recycled plastic. A
crisis. The study, conducted by UK-based non- separate bill that mandates post-consumer plastic be
governmental-organisation (NGO) Tearfund, focused used in beverage containers passed the legislature but
on plastic pollution in six developing countries: Brazil,
hasn't yet been acted on by Inslee. That legislation,
China, India, Mexico, Nigeria and the Philippines. It
House Bill 2722, requires beverage manufacturers to
noted that Coca-Cola is responsible for around 200,000
use an average at least 10% post-consumer content in
tonnes of plastic pollution annually in these six
countries. Coca-Cola is followed by its arch-rival
PepsiCo with a plastic pollution footprint of 137,000
tonnes per year. The findings also include that
consumer brands Coca-Cola, Nestlé, PepsiCo and
Unilever are jointly responsible for more than half a
million tonnes of plastic pollution in these six nations.
The NGO further estimated that the burning of plastic
creates around 4.6m tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalent, driving greenhouse gas emissions. The
study was conducted as part of Tearfund's Rubbish
Campaign. This campaign aims to persuade these four
firms to switch to sustainable packaging alternatives. bottles starting in 2022, 25% starting in 2025 and 50%
Tearfund global advocacy and influencing director Dr starting in 2030. The legislature approved both bills in
Ruth Valerio said: “These companies are selling plastic March. Under the legislation, carryout bags do not
in the full knowledge that it will be burnt or dumped in include those used by consumers inside stores to
developing countries: scarring landscapes, package bulk items; contain or wrap items where
contributing to climate change and harming the health
dampness or sanitation may be a problem; and
of the world's poorest people. “At present, Coca-Cola,
newspaper bags, mailing pouches or sealed envelopes,
Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever make little or no mention
among others. Some conservative lawmakers
of emissions from the disposal of their products or
supported the Democrat-sponsored legislation in the
p a c k a g i n g i n t h e i r c l i m a t e c h a n g e
hopes it will create paper bag demand for Washington's
commitments.“These companies have a moral
pulp and paper industry. Opponents of the legislation
responsibility for the disposal of the products they
continue to pump into developing countries without argued that bags can help reduce the potential spread
proper waste management systems.” of coronavirus in grocery stores and other retail shops.

APRIL 2020 42 Plastics News