Bali, Indonesia, October 29 \u2013 Greenpeace has cautiously welcomed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment announced today by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, saying that it allows for too much flexibility. Coke, Danone, Mars, Pepsi and Unilever are among the 200+ signatories that have pledged to tackle plastic pollution, though Greenpeace, a member of the Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) movement, has urged these corporations to show concrete actions that focus on reduction.<\/p>\n
In response to today\u2019s EMF announcement, Greenpeace Indonesia Global Plastics Project Leader Ahmad Ashov said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile elements of the EMF Global Commitment are moving in the right direction, the problem is that companies are given the flexibility to continue prioritising recycling over reduction and reuse. Corporations are not required to set actual targets to reduce the total amount of single-use plastics they are churning out. They can simply continue with business as usual after signing the commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur recent report \u2018A Crisis of Convenience,\u2019<\/a> reveals that 11 of the largest consumer goods companies\u2019 current plans allow them to increase their use of single-use plastics and none have set clear elimination or reduction targets.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we continue down this current path, global plastic production will double in twenty years and quadruple by 2050 [1]. Unless corporations are held accountable to ambitious and mandatory reduction targets, we won\u2019t be able to tackle the problem at the source and efforts like the EMF pledge will not change much.\u201d<\/p>\n Greenpeace is calling on companies like Nestl\u00e9, Unilever, Coca-Cola and Pepsi to show true leadership and deliver on all of the following actions:<\/p>\n \u2022 Set ambitious and accountable targets to reduce single-use plastics Photo and video here:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/media.greenpeace.org\/collection\/27MZIFJWMJGLA<\/a><\/p>\n [1] https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-philippines-stateless\/2019\/05\/52f63197-52f63197-wef_the_new_plastics_economy.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n Greenpeace International Press Desk
\n\u2022 Act immediately to eliminate excessive and problematic plastic packaging
\n\u2022 Prioritise investment in reuse and alternative delivery systems
\n\u2022 Embrace transparency and report annually on their plastic footprint<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Notes:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Contacts:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\npressdesk.int@greenpeace.org<\/a>