With discussions at the IMO MEPC meeting on sea-based sources of marine plastic delayed until the end of the year, BIMCO is focusing on how to reduce plastic footprint.
The 76th meeting of its Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 76) held 10 – 17 June has found the Committee focussing on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
In light of the situation, BIMCO has taken initiatives to highlight that plastic pollution remains a significant threat to the marine environment.
Following the delays in international action and discussion, BIMCO is looking at a number of initiatives to approach how shipping can reduce its plastics footprint. These initiatives include:
- Support the phasing out of single use plastic bottles when replaced by eg fully biodegradable water bottles or onboard systems that provide safe and good quality potable water, and will be launching a campaign towards the end of this year to enable this.
- Run a series of activities to look at shipping and microplastics, beginning with a roundtable at London International Shipping Week that will explore grey water as a source of microplastics, and will look into the role of regulation plus examine what action owners, operators, managers and seafarers could take to reduce any impact.
