UK national standards body, BSI, has announced a new project which will focus on creating the first specification to help prevent plastic pellet pollution.
The document is expected to be published in July 2021.
The fast-tracked standardisation document will be known as Publicly Available Specification 510 (PAS 510) Plastic pellets, flakes and powders – handling and management throughout the supply chain to prevent their leakage to the environment.
The document will aim to provide an important tool for companies to demonstrate good practice in pellet loss prevention measures across the supply chain.
The guidelines will be suitable for all supply chain organisations involved in using, processing, handling, storing or transporting plastic pellets, flakes and powders. It will set out measures to prevent the leakage of plastic pellets, flakes and powders, collectively referred to as pellets, into the environment and demonstrate procedures for continual improvement.
The specification aims to build on the existing plastic industry’s programme titled, ‘Operation Clean Sweep’, which is co-ordinated by the British Plastics Federation (BPF) in the UK and offers guidance and tools to prevent plastic pellet loss across the supply chain.
The standardisation document will be developed by a steering group consisting of experts from across the international supply chain including plastics manufacturers, transportation, retailing and recycling organisations. It is sponsored by Marine Scotland, the BPF, and a number of investors through The Investor Forum who are being represented by Fauna & Flora International (FFI). The Investor Forum sponsors include: Allianz Global Investors, Brewin Dolphin, Man Group, Environment Agency Pension Fund, Generation Investment Management, LGPS Central, McInroy & Wood, Ownership Capital, and Troy Asset Management.
David Fatscher, head of environment, social and governance standards at BSI, commented: “Plastic pollution is a complex global issue that requires urgent collaboration and action between governments and the corporate sector to help stop pellets making their way into the ocean each year. PAS 510 is a landmark step in the right direction. We are working with a range of experts to agree best practice to prevent the leakage of plastic pellets into the environment.”
Victoria Sant, senior adviser at the Investor Forum, said: “We are delighted to have been able to bring together investors who want to play their part in catalysing change. Compliance with a globally-recognised standardisation document allows companies to demonstrate best practice and gives investors a means for engagement on this issue, and the ability to hold companies to account. We believe this is the first time investors have sponsored a specification to improve corporate behaviour and see this as a tangible stewardship action.”
BPF sustainability executive, Adela Putinelu, added: “The development of the PAS provides a unique opportunity for companies to verify and demonstrate compliance with pellet loss prevention measures. As the loss of valuable raw material along the supply chain has serious environmental and economic consequences, the plastics industry is taking a proactive approach to successfully mitigate this risk.”
Hazel Akester, marine plastics programme officer at FFI, concluded: “Plastic pellets are estimated to be the second largest source of direct microplastic pollution entering the ocean, where they can have severe impacts on a wide range of species, including fish (which provide critical protein to billions of people) and seabirds, such as puffins. We are pleased to be part of this crucial initiative bringing together experts from industry, government, and the non-profit sector, to develop a globally applicable standard that can be used by all stages of the plastic supply chain to address this preventable source of plastic pollution.”