By Angie Bucu
- Published on October 22, 2014 by South China Morning Post
Ridding Hong Kong’s beaches of plastic waste is a gargantuan task, requiring cooperation from the government, shops and restaurants – and every single one of us.
Hong Kong’s Plastic Disclosure Project and Ocean Recovery Alliance suggest that pressure needs to be put on manufacturers. The two groups partnered with Britain’s Trucost and Unep to publish a comprehensive report calling for the measurement and disclosure of plastic use in consumer products. The report, “Valuing Plastic: The Business Case for Measuring, Managing and Disclosing Plastic Use in the Consumer Goods Industry”, confirms that “the most significant downstream impact [of plastic products and packaging] is marine pollution.” The authors don’t suggest moving away from plastic use per se, but recommend using it in a more efficient and environmentally sustainable way, which includes effective recycling...