Plastics and Marine Debris

Solutions Through Education

Plastics' durability and light weight have made them ideal for many uses on or near the water. Unfortunately, improper disposal of plastic products is causing problems that range from unsightly beaches to endangered marine life.

The plastics industry - through The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) - has been an active participant in efforts to help solve the problem of marine debris since 1986. SPI's Board of Directors has approved a policy statement which says, in part:

"The SPI supports the responsible use of its industry's materials and proper disposal of those products when they become waste. Plastics should not be discarded into the ocean or any other body of water."

In the years since this policy statement was adopted, the industry has:

• Supported financially and otherwise major domestic and international beach cleanups (as have a number of member companies).
• Maintained an ongoing supportive relationship with federal agencies, environmental groups, private industry and the plastics trade press to help solve the marine debris problem.
• Developed an industry-wide awareness and education program, Operation Clean Sweep, to help the plastics industry reduce the loss of resin pellets into the environment.
• Developed an ongoing public information campaign, in cooperation with the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), about the consequences of improper disposal plastics in the marine environment.

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