SID Panel | Celebrating Innovations to Mitigate Ocean Plastics Pollution

Join our team for a virtual panel discussion on innovations to mitigate ocean plastics pollution, hosted by the SID-US Environmental and Sustainability Workgroup! Through a panel of representatives, including experts from RTI, in solid waste management, research, advocacy and industry, SID-US will present and discuss innovative technologies and practices, research, public-private partnerships and financing opportunities that seek practical responses to mitigate marine plastics pollution.

Full details are below and registration is open to the public!   

The 2022 World Environment Day calls for collective, transformative action to protect and restore environmental resources. Attention to protect waterways including the ocean from plastic pollution has increased tremendously in the past several years. Since the 1950s, plastic use in everyday commodities from packaging to clothing to face masks has drastically increased. Given its durability, practicality and cost-efficiency, plastic is the ultimate all-purpose, multi-use material. But, due to its slow decomposition rate, ranging from 100 to 1,000 years, its harmful effects on the environment, natural habitats, and biodiversity are also widespread.

The World Bank estimates that the plastic industry, which derives and produces plastics from oil, consumes about 6 percent of global oil consumption and emits significant greenhouse gases (GHG) due to energy-intensive plastic production processes. Recent 2022 studies have now shown presence of microplastics in human blood and lungs aside from seafood.  With ever rising consumption trends of products and need for individual protection against pandemics, use of plastics and thus plastic pollution will likely continue to grow.

To battle plastics pollution, there are more than 25 international policies that countries like Rwanda, Mexico, Taiwan and the U.S. have instituted between 2000 to 2019 to curb plastics use. Focus has also shifted towards improving overall solid waste management and adoption of increased circular economy principles across all industries as a means for reducing plastic leakage and addressing GHG emissions.

With these advances, the Society of International Development – United States (SID-US) chapter seeks to better understand:

1. Is there a solid waste management value chain for consideration?
2. Where are the priorities and opportunities for more innovation in the solid waste management process?
3. What investments are needed to scale innovations?