{"id":2742,"date":"2019-01-17T17:18:42","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T15:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/recyclingnetwerk.org\/?p=2742"},"modified":"2025-01-08T08:12:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T08:12:53","slug":"members-of-alliance-to-end-plastic-waste-are-actually-investing-billions-to-produce-more-plastics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fairresourcefoundation.org\/en\/members-of-alliance-to-end-plastic-waste-are-actually-investing-billions-to-produce-more-plastics\/","title":{"rendered":"Members of \u2018Alliance to end plastic waste\u2019 are actually investing billions to produce more plastics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many of the 28 members forming the Alliance, including major companies like BASF, Shell, ExxonMobil and Dow, have scheduled future billion dollar investments in the expansion of plastic production.<\/p>\n

They don\u2019t practice what they preach, research by the Dutch-Belgian environmental NGO Recycling Netwerk reveals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe alliance was launched with a huge marketing effort on Wednesday. The signatories claim to invest over a billion dollars to \u201cend plastic waste\u201d. But an overview of pending investments in the expansion of plastic production (see list below<\/i>), quickly reveals the hypocrisy of the Alliance. Without tackling the production of plastic at its source, all clean-up efforts will be in vain\u201d, Recycling Netwerk<\/a> says.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Related article: \"\"The Guardian<\/strong>, Founders of plastic waste alliance \u2018investing billions in new plants<\/a>, 21\/01\/2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Solving plastic waste should start with halting the increase in plastic production<\/h3>\n

\"\"It is a small step forward that the plastics industry finally recognizes the huge problem with plastics. But it\u2019s sad they still cling to symbolic and end-of-pipe measures. Given the fact that they plan an enormous expansion of their plastic production, the Alliance seems to be nothing more than a large greenwashing operation.<\/p>\n

Procter & Gamble, BASF, DSM, Dow, Suez, the chemical divisions of Total, Shell and ExxonMobil, and 20 other multinationals are part of the \u201cAlliance to end plastic waste<\/a>\u201d, claiming to invest more than 1 billion dollar to fight plastic waste.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this initiative does not tackle the problem at its source: the gigantic production of 400 million tonnes plastic each year, with 60 million metric tonnes produced in Europe alone.<\/p>\n

Seeing that the signatories themselves are building new factories to produce even more plastic, in a time when the European Union<\/a> and the rest of the world are trying to fight plastic pollution, makes it all the more disappointing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Related article: Fortune<\/strong>, Alliance to End Plastic Waste Criticized for Including Major Plastic Producers<\/a>, 21\/01\/2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Same goal, different tactics<\/h3>\n

\"\"For years, the story by big industry has been about blaming the consumer for pollution and making grand promises on recycling. Chemical industry and food and drinks industry share this narrative and have successfully convinced many policy makers to stay away from effective legislation that would curb plastic pollution at its source.<\/p>\n

2018 was a turning point<\/a>, with public opinion demanding action to preserve nature and the oceans from plastic pollution. The \u2018Alliance to end plastic waste\u2019 seems to be a reaction of the plastic industry to this mounting pressure.<\/p>\n

But the measures proposed by the Alliance don\u2019t tackle the plastic waste problem at its source. Most plastics are used for the production of packaging which is often used only once: single-use plastics. Cleanups of streets, rivers and seas offer no effective solution as long as a steady stream of new plastics keeps being produced and collected in a half-hearted way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese kind of actions aim to save the image of plastic. But plastics don\u2019t have a mere \u2018image problem\u2019 – the exaggerated use of it in products with a short lifespan is a problem in itself\u201d, Recycling Netwerk director Rob Buurman states. Therefore the questions that remain are how these companies will spend the money in the Alliance to End Plastic Waste<\/a> fund and if there will be external supervision. There is a real risk that this Alliance is the start of a big greenwashing campaign for plastics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Related articles<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

The Daily Mail<\/strong>, Founders of a new $1.5bn alliance to clean up ocean waste are among the biggest investors in new plastic plants<\/a>, 21\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

iNews<\/strong>, Multinational companies who founded alliance to tackle plastic waste \u2018found investing billions in producing more plastic\u2019<\/a>, 22\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

MRW<\/strong>, Campaign slams ‘hypocrisy’ of industry anti-plastics group<\/a>, 21\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

AfvalOnline<\/strong>, Plasticalliantie pakt bron probleem niet aan<\/a>, 22\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

Nachrichten Welt<\/strong>, Gr\u00fcnder der Kunststoffabfallallianz \u201einvestieren Milliarden in neue Anlagen\u201c, 22\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

Moustique<\/strong>, L\u2019Alliance contre le plastique : une union entre les plus grands pollueurs de la plan\u00e8te<\/a>, 21\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

Cips<\/strong>, Alliance to tackle plastic waste accused of ‘greenwash’<\/a>, 21\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

Compelo<\/strong>, Six investments into plastic production by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste<\/a>, 22\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

Mexico Ambiental<\/strong>, Los fundadores de la alianza de residuos pl\u00e1sticos \u2018invierten miles de millones en nuevas plantas\u2019<\/a>, 22\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

Read01<\/strong>, \u8017\u8cc715\u5104\u7f8e\u5143\u3001\u65e8\u5728\u6e05\u7406\u6d77\u6d0b\u5783\u573e\u7684\u65b0\u806f\u76df\u7684\u5275\u59cb\u4eba\uff0c\u662f\u65b0\u5851\u6599\u5de5\u5ee0\u6700\u5927\u6295\u8cc7\u8005\u4e4b\u4e00\u539f\u6587\u7db2\u5740<\/a>, 22\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

Yahoo Finance<\/strong>, Alliance to End Plastic Waste Criticized for Including Major Plastic Producers<\/a>, 21\/01\/2019<\/p>\n

BBC World Service<\/strong>, World Business report, Environment Takes Centre Stage at Davos<\/a>. 22\/01\/2019.\u00a0 Interview with Recycling Netwerk Director Rob Buurman starting at 07:46<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

The who\u2019s who of companies investing in the expansion of plastic production<\/h3>\n

\"\"Below we have listed quite a number of investments in plastic production facilities that have been made recently or are planned for the near future by signatories of the alliance<\/a>. It strongly supports the idea that the launch and funding of the so-called Alliance to End Plastic Waste are actually intended to safeguard and even expand the production of plastic.<\/p>\n

Many of the investments are linked to fracking<\/a>: the process to obtain cheap shale gas, which is seen as one of the most important drivers of an increase in plastic production. Many of the planned installations aim to use the shale gas to produce ethylene gas which can then be used to create single use plastics such as polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate.<\/p>\n

The list almost reads like a \u201cwho\u2019s who\u201d of companies planning billion dollar investments in plastics production, as you can see in this scan of recent press releases, reports and press articles:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Signatories of the so-called \u201cAlliance to end plastic waste\u201d<\/b><\/td>\nInvestment in plastic production<\/b><\/td>\ndate<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BASF<\/td>\nBASF to invest in new plastic additives plant in Shanghai, China<\/a><\/td>\n14\/03\/2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BASF<\/td>\nBASF to establish $10b site in Guangdong<\/a><\/td>\n2030<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Berry Global<\/td>\nBerry Global Mulls $70M Plastics Plant Expansion<\/a><\/td>\n13\/02\/2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Braskem<\/td>\nBraskem to build largest polypropylene production line in the Americas<\/a><\/td>\n22\/6\/2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC<\/td>\nChevron Phillips Chemical breaks ground on $6 billion petrochemical project<\/a><\/td>\n23\/06\/2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clariant<\/td>\nClariant Will Expand Plant in Lewiston, ME To Produce More Medical Plastic Compounds<\/a><\/td>\n01\/002\/2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Covestro<\/td>\nNew U.S. Plant to Help Plastics Maker Covestro Balance Out Production Capacity<\/a><\/td>\n11\/10\/2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dow<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dow<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dow<\/td>\nDow considers investing in new plastics plant at Terneuzen complex<\/a><\/td>\n01\/05\/2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dow<\/td>\nUS Golf Coast<\/a><\/td>\n2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DSM<\/td>\nDSM to expand capacity of high performance plastics<\/td>\n27\/11\/2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ExxonMobil<\/td>\nExxonMobil Begins Production on New Polyethylene Line at Mont Belvieu Plastics Plant<\/a><\/td>\n17\/10\/2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ExxonMobil<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ExxonMobil<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ExxonMobil<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ExxonMobil<\/td>\nExxonMobil latest foreign major to invest in petchem plant, LNG terminal in China<\/a><\/td>\n2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Formosa Plastics Corporation USA<\/td>\nFormosa Plastics to Invest $13B in U.S. Production Capacity<\/a><\/td>\n10\/01\/2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Formosa<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Formosa<\/td>\nLouisiana<\/a><\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Henkel,<\/td>\nAnnouncements of investments in plastic plants not immediately found<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LyondellBasell<\/td>\nLyondellBasell plant in La Porte will help reshape plastic-making<\/a><\/td>\n15\/05\/2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LyondellBasell<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings<\/td>\nAnnouncements of investments in plastic plants not immediately found<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mitsui Chemicals<\/td>\nMitsui Chemicals to expand elastomer production in Singapore<\/a><\/td>\n09\/06\/2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NOVA Chemicals<\/td>\nTotal, Borealis and Nova Chemicals make final investment decision for US project<\/a><\/td>\n26\/9\/2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NOVA Chemicals<\/td>\nCanada<\/a><\/td>\n2021-2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OxyChem<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\nQ1 2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PolyOne<\/td>\nPolyOne Corp set to buy engineering plastic maker Formulated Polymers<\/a><\/td>\n08\/08\/2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Procter & Gamble<\/td>\nAnnouncements of investments in plastic plants not immediately found<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reliance Industries<\/td>\nReliance Industries Ltd commissions two plants for polyester plastic<\/a><\/td>\n10\/04\/2015<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SABIC<\/td>\nSaudi Aramco and Sabic to build world’s largest oil-to-chemicals plant<\/a><\/td>\n26\/11\/2017<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SABIC<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sasol<\/td>\nSasol plant boost for plastics manufacturers<\/a><\/td>\n15\/01\/2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SUEZ<\/td>\nInvests in plastic recycling. Announcements of investments in plastic plants not immediately found<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shell<\/td>\nPennsylvania<\/a><\/td>\n2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shell<\/td>\nShell to build Pennsylvania plastics plant in bid for market share<\/a><\/td>\n07\/06\/2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shell<\/td>\nChina<\/a><\/td>\n2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SCG Chemicals<\/td>\nSCG invests Bt173 bn in petrochemical plant in Vietnam<\/a><\/td>\n11\/06\/2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sumitomo Chemical<\/td>\n\n

<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/td>\nTexas<\/a><\/td>\n2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Veolia<\/td>\nInvests in plastic recycling. Announcements of investments in plastic plants not immediately found<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Versalis (Eni)<\/td>\nVersalis to Invest \u20ac125 Million in Mantova Plant<\/a><\/td>\n28\/03\/2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Related media:<\/p>\n

BBC World, World Business Report<\/p>\n