Page 39 - Plastics News June 2018

internAtionAL news

UN calls bans 'effective strategies' to reduce plastic litter

new report from the United Nations environmental said."The assessment shows that action can be painless
A agency says bans and taxes on single-use disposable and profitable — with huge gains for people and the planet
plastics can be an effective strategy for combating plastic that help avert the costly downstream costs of pollution,"
litter. The report also highlights benefits of polymer Solheim said. "Plastic isn't the problem. It's what we do
with it."The report said that governments must improve
waste management practices, a point made frequently by
plastics industry groups.

Packaging production on steady

climb in Mexico

ackaging production in Mexico, including the use
Pof plastics, paper, glass and metal, is showing
persistent growth, according to the sector's national
association. The Asociación Mexicana de Envase y
Embalaje (AMEE) said it totaled 11.9 million metric
materials and says there is a need for cooperation with tons in 2017, an increase of 5.1 percent over 2016.
businesses.The report, released on World Environment According to AMEE President Lola Morena Pérez Palma,
Day June 5, bills itself as the first comprehensive look this year's production will also grow by as much as
at what's worked in dealing with litter from disposable 5.1 percent. The sector's sales in 2017 amounted to
plastics packaging. "Government levies and bans, where $14.2 million, 5.4 percent up on the previous year.
properly planned and enforced ,have been among the Paper and carton packaging accounted for 33.9
most effective strategies to limit overuse of disposable percent of sales, followed by plastic (27.9 percent),
plastic products," according to U.N. Environment. The glass (19.5 percent), metal (18.4 percent) and wood
report comes during a week that's shining a spotlight on (0.3 percent).
plastic pollution concerns. While it was spearheading
that campaign, the U.N. agency also noted the benefits Pérez Palma was speaking on the eve of Expo Pack
of plastics. Erik Solheim, the head of U.N. Environment, México, which
called it a "miracle material" that has saved lives with its will run at the
use in medical products and led to safer food storage.But Expo San t a
he said that with packaging accounting for half of global Fe exhibition
plastics waste, it pollutes oceans, harms marine life and center in
gets into the food chain for people after its consumed Mexico City
by livestock."The good news is that a growing number of from June 5-8,
governments are taking action and demonstrating that covering 19,300
all nations, whether rich or poor, can become global square meters
environmental leaders," he said. "Rwanda, a pioneer in (207,743 square
banning plastic single-use bags, is now one of the cleanest f eet).E xpo
nations on earth. Kenya has followed suit, helping clear Pack Director
its iconic national parks and save its cows."Solheim was in Gerardo Barajas
India, the host country of this year's World Environment has dubbed it
Day, to launch the report in New Delhi with Indian Prime the largest trade show for the industry in Latin
Minister Narendra Modi. The report is designed to be a tool America. One thousand companies from 20 countries
for policymakers to using in assessing what has worked will have their services and wares on display and 23,000
and what hasn't, as they "introduce measures to regulate visitors are expected over the four days. A full program
the production and use of disposable plastics," Solheim of conferences is an additional attraction.

39 June 2018 Plastics News