Page 30 - Plastics News June - 2020

APR announces newest Recycling Demand Lotte Mart to cut single-use plastic packaging by
Champion companies
ssociation of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has
Aannounced its new campaign that is designed to
expand market demand for recycled resins and
improve plastic recycling in North America. APR has
announced new commitments during the June 2020
Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Member Meeting
held virtually in light of the COVID-19 health crisis.
Developed by the APR, Washington, The APR Recycling
Demand Champions Campaign helps to drive
investment in and increase the supply of postconsumer
resin (PCR). The campaign is a companion to the
recently launched Government Recycling Demand
Champions Program. Originally announced in October
2017 with 10 participating companies, that number
grew to 20 companies in 2018 and resulted in more than
30 million pounds of new demand for PCR, APR reports
in a news release. Currently, 40 companies are
participating and will report their impact in October.
The campaign includes any and all new volume PCR
use. This can be achieved through purchasing “work in
process” (WIP) goods that contain PCR for
manufacturing facilities, developing a new application
for PCR and increasing PCR use in a current application.
APR, in partnership with the Northeast Recycling
Council (NERC), recently expanded the scope of the
campaign beyond the private sector to include
government entities. APR hosted a webinar about this
campaign in late May. “We look forward to the
continued growth and expansion of this important
campaign,” says Liz Bedard, director of the APR
Olefins/Rigids Plastic Recycling Program. “Instead of
allowing a crisis to force them to back off of
sustainability goals, these companies exemplified a
continued commitment to their prepandemic efforts.”
June 2020 30
50% by 2025
outh Korea supermarket chain Lotte Mart has
Srevealed plans to halve its single-use plastic
packaging by 2025. The commitment is part of the
retailer's larger plan to execute new eco-friendly
packaging guidelines for its private brands. It also aims
to launch new measures to reach 'zero plastic bags'
target. The announcement makes Lotte Mart as the first
supermarket chain in Asia to make such a commitment.
Non-governmental environment organisation
Greenpeace Seoul has welcomed Lotte Mart's initiatives
in tackling the plastic pollution crisis. Greenpeace
Seoul Plastics Campaigner Yiseo Kim said: “Lotte Mart's
announcement to cut down on plastic usage is a
significant step forward. “Other retailers in Korea
should follow suit and use Lotte's plan as an example to
disclose their plastic reduction targets. “Also, Lotte
Mart also has dozens of stores in Vietnam and Indonesia,
and should apply the same ambitious plastic reduction
targets across their global operations.” Lotte Mart's
announcement does not include detailed action plans
on how it intends to execute its commitments.
Greenpeace Seoul has urged the retailer to establish an
effective implementation system for the same. The
organisation has been calling on supermarkets in South
Korea to cut down on single-use plastics usage in the
country since last year. Kim added: “This is a major
milestone in the global campaign for a plastic-free
future, and other supermarkets beyond Korea and Asia
must follow Lotte Mart's lead. We look forward to more
details on Lotte Mart's plastic reduction plan and urge
the company to prioritise package-free and reusable
systems.”
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