What companies are doing to address the plastic pollution problem

Apr 19, 2024

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Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, we're continuing our series on plastic with a look at steps some companies are taking to address the growing plastic pollution problem.

The ESG Insider podcast launched the series ahead of international plastic treaty talks taking place in Ottawa, Canada April 23-29. More than 170 countries will gather to negotiate a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, with a view to agreeing on a global treaty by the end of 2024.

In today's episode, we talk to Dow, one of the world's largest chemical and plastic production companies, to hear how it is approaching the challenge of pollution and waste alongside growing demand for plastic.

We talk with the company's Lead Sustainability Director Jihane Ball and with Stephanie Kalil, Senior Global Business Director, Packaging & Specialty Plastics at Dow. Stephanie explains how Dow is working to change its business model for plastics.

"We're shifting the business model from what has historically been a largely linear business model — where you basically make, sell, consume, then dispose — to more of a circular model, which is going to start with us designing with the end in mind so that we can ensure that all the products that we make are recyclable and delivering the lowest carbon footprint," Stephanie says.

We hear the perspective of a company that uses plastic in its products and packaging in our interview with Allison Lin, Global Vice President of Packaging Sustainability at Mars, one of world's the largest food and confectionary companies.

And we hear about some of the emerging technology solutions for plastic waste in an interview with Adela Putinelu, Head of Policy and Sustainability at plastics recycling company Plastic Energy.

Listen to the first episode in this series, titled "How plastic impacts companies, investors, public health and the environment": https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-plastic-impacts-companies-investors-public-health-and-the-environment

Listen to the second episode in this series, titled "What's at stake in UN plastic pollution treaty talks:" https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/what-s-at-stake-in-un-plastic-pollution-treaty-talks

And listen to our interview with Kevin Rabinovitch, Global Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Climate Officer at Mars: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-one-of-world-s-largest-food-companies-is-rethinking-supply-chains

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.

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