Page 66 - Plastics News December 2019

CompANy NEws

MRPL and KSPCB jointly Four new companies join

hold Environmental Awareness Alliance to End Plastic Waste
Program

harter NEX Films, Milliken & Company, Pregis and
CGeocycle have joined the Alliance to End Plastic
RPL (Mangalore Refinery) conducted an environmental Waste (AEPW). The four companies have joined the
Mawareness program on along with KSPCB at Government global coalition to address the issue of plastic waste in
Primary School Kuthethoor, Mangalapete. The objective of the environment. Charter NEX Films is involved in the
the program was to enlighten the young minds about the manufacture and production of speciality films, Milliken
need to prevent use of plastic and to enable them with & Company focuses on speciality chemicals, Pregis
knowledge and tools to do their bit for the environment. develops protective packaging, and Geocycle provides
sustainable waste management solutions. Earlier in July,
12 companies, namely Equate Petrochemical, Gemini,
Grupo Phoenix, Mondi, Novolex, PepsiCo, Sealed
Air, Sinopec, SKC, Storopack, TOMRA, and Westlake
Chemical joined the alliance. AEPW president and CEO
Jacob Duer said: “It’s a great source of pride that in
one of my first public announcements I get to celebrate
the continued growth of the Alliance by welcoming
these new members.“Everyone agrees: plastic waste
does not belong in our ocean, or anywhere in the
environment. The reach, expertise and commitment
of these four companies are going to help us advance
KSPCB team led by Sri Jayaprakash Naik, Sr Scientific
Officer and Sri Kirthi Kumar gave a presentation to the
children about the ill effects of excessive plastic use and
the strategies to be adopted by individuals and society
to come out of this concerning situation. MRPL Team led
by CGM (HSE) Sri U.V. Aithal, Sri MS Sudharshan (CGM)
and other officers facilitated the program by conducting
a quiz and distributing prizes. MRPL also sponsored
“Jute Bags” to each of the children to help them kick
start the habit of “saying no to plastic. While plastic has
many valuable uses, we have become addicted to single-
use or disposable plastic — with severe environmental
consequences. Around the world, one million plastic
drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up
to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide our comprehensive approach to addressing this global
every year. Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic challenge, while simultaneously developing sustainable
objects and particles (e.g.: plastic bottles and much solutions.” Launched in January, AEPW’s global
more) in the Earth's environment that adversely affects membership strength has now grown from 27 to 42 since
wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. The Environmental its launch. The members comprise chemical and plastic
Protection and Awareness division promotes the protection manufacturers, consumer goods companies, retailers,
of our natural environment, the health and well-being of converters and waste management companies.The
our citizens, increasing awareness in environmental issues. global coalition has pledged to invest more than $1.0bn
It also facilitates the participation of Non-Governmental with the aim of reaching $1.5bn in the next five years
Organisations and civil society. to end plastic waste.

Plastics News December 2019 6668