New Plastics Economy Commitment Declaration

Our Seas Our Future is pleased to support the recent government decision to sign the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment declaration. Whilst this move is by no means a final solution for marine plastic pollution, we hope that this commitment will be part of a continued effort to legitimately cut down on unnecessary plastics and transition towards a circular economy. By signing the declaration, we are pleased to see New Zealand join 250 other countries and organisations who wish to establish a more sustainable economy. Our Seas Our Future hopes that this declaration will encourage international collaboration and improved action against plastic pollution.

As an advocate for marine and coastal sustainability, Our Seas Our Future has long acknowledged and called for urgent action to address plastic pollution as it emerges as one of the greatest threats to marine life and the health of our oceans. We hope that the current targets introduced by the Global Commitment will effectively eliminate unnecessary plastics and most importantly nurture the move away from a single-use mentality as we prioritise reusing and reducing.

Spokesperson Olivia Gallagher says that whilst the move might be considered to be tokenistic, we believe the declaration will encourage greater corporate responsibility as well as extend the scope for eliminating other types of single use plastic, which were not included in the recent nationwide plastic bag ban.

We believe that the targets set within the declaration strike the right balance between ambitious and achievable, which will incentivise businesses to jump on board and make realistic steps towards reducing plastic pollution in response to changing consumer preferences

Our Seas Our Future calls upon businesses to take a leadership role in response to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment Declaration.

References:

1. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/768

2. https://www.nature.com/articles/srep14340

3. http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/284/1860/20171000

4. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/aquaculture/94814758/plastic-being-regularly-ingested-by-fish-consumed-in-new-zealand
5.
6. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-10813-0
7.
www.osof.org

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