Plasticcycle, the Social Entrepreneurship Project of the John Keells Group hosted “Plastics: It’s Now or Forever” on June 11, a multi-stakeholder webinar in lieu of World Environment Day closely looking at the theme of ‘eradicating and mitigating plastic pollution to restore ecosystems’.
The panel was moderated by Talitha Perera Executive Plasticcycle comprised of Andrew Dalby CEO Softlogic Supermarkets, Amanthi Perera Deputy General Manager for Strategic Sustainability at MAS Holdings, Roshan Narasinghage Project Manager Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) and Muditha Katuwawala, Coordinator, The Pearl Protectors.
The discussion highlighted the measures taken by each stakeholder group from advocacy initiatives by The Pearl Protectors, a marine conservation organization seeking to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans, to the EPR Roadmap development by BSL, a national platform operated through the commitments of the corporate sector towards the sustainable development of Sri Lanka
As contributors towards circular economies, both panelists representing MAS Holdings and GLOMARK Supermarkets spoke of the initiatives taken up by their respective organizations and the challenges overcome by these companies to minimize the plastic footprint within their organisations, communities, and industries.
Reiterating the need to adhere and maintain limitations upon policies which have already been implemented, The Pearl Protectors, Coordinator Muditha Katuwawala said, “An estimated 12.7 Million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year and over 50% of marine litter is composed of single use plastic created by an use and dispose culture which is propelled by human activity”
“One key component of the proposed roadmap is the Mandatory Report and Collect-Back Model for Sri Lanka which will be rolled out initially targeting PET and HIPS plastics through a facilitated process involving the Ministry of Environment, Central Environmental Authority, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Biodiversity Sri Lanka.”
Reflecting on the role of retailers as they address the issue on the mismanagement of post-consumption waste plastic, CEO of Softlogic Supermarkets Andrew Dalby said, “The retail industry has been working towards implementing a charge on plastic bags which would be initially rolled out among supermarket chains across the industry.”
Plasticcycle together with the Retailer’s Association and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has submitted a framework proposal to the Ministry of Environment to implement a nominal charge on plastic bags issued at retail outlets.
Further emphasising the need for circular practices, MAS Holdings, Deputy General Manager for Strategic Sustainability, Amanthi Perera said, “Reducing our internal plastic footprint and developing raw materials by using recycled plastics are only some of the many steps which we have taken towards mitigating plastic pollution caused by our businesses.”
0 comments: