Latest news with #singleUsePlastics
South China Morning Post
14-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong restaurants may start testing alternatives to plastics in next 2 months
Hong Kong restaurants may start testing alternatives to certain single-use plastics for items such as food containers in the next two months, the environment minister has said, as the government gauges the business sector's feedback before implementing a ban. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan on Saturday gave the update on the second phase of the government's plan to rid the city of disposable plastic items, after the first stage was introduced in April last year. 'We may launch a large-scale trial as there are more than 100 types of alternatives [to plastics]. Let's try and see which ones work,' Tse told a radio programme He added that feedback would also be passed on to suppliers to see how the products could be improved. Under the first phase of the ban, disposable plastic products such as polystyrene tableware, straws, stirrers and cutlery can no longer be sold or offered by businesses for takeaway and dine-in services. Hotels are also barred from offering single-use plastic items such as toothbrushes, shower caps and bottled water for free. Authorities are yet to announce a concrete timetable for the second phase, under which they are set to ban all disposable plastics in restaurants. The sale and free distribution of plastic food containers, cups, cup lids, six-pack yokes for canned drinks, tablecloths, earplugs and plastic-stemmed dental floss will also be prohibited. 'We are now planning the trial scheme, which could be launched in one to two months. We will recruit more restaurants to join the trial,' he said.
Zawya
02-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt launches campaign to curb single-use plastic pollution amid global climate push
Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, on Sunday launched a nationwide awareness campaign titled 'Reduce It' to combat single-use plastic pollution, aligning with World Environment Day 2025 and its global theme, 'Beat Plastic Pollution.' The initiative, supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Japan, aims to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics and promote sustainable alternatives across the country. Held in Cairo, the campaign launch brought together senior representatives from government, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. Among the attendees were Japan's Ambassador to Egypt, Oka Hiroshi, UNIDO Regional Director Patrick Gilabert, industry leaders, and officials from the Ministry of Environment and waste management authorities. Minister Fouad thanked President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi for his continued support of Egypt's environmental efforts, describing his endorsement of the national plastic reduction strategy as a 'cornerstone' of the country's broader environmental agenda. She emphasized that the campaign builds on a multi-year initiative to introduce standards for plastic alternatives, balancing the interests of manufacturers and consumers. 'We are shifting the focus from bans to gradual reduction—especially in anticipation of a future global, legally binding agreement on plastic pollution,' Fouad said, referencing current negotiations led by the UN Environment Programme. Fouad outlined the economic and environmental advantages of reducing plastic use, including lower import costs for raw materials, reduced production expenses, and new opportunities for local industries to develop eco-friendly alternatives. She also pointed to serious health and ecological risks—citing marine and livestock harm observed in Egypt's southern Red Sea protectorates. Transitioning to sustainable alternatives, she noted, will require modern technology, regulatory clarity, and skilled labor—all supported by Egypt's new investment law, which prioritizes green industries such as plastic alternatives. Japan's Ambassador, Fumio Iwai, praised the campaign as a continuation of the 2019 agreement between President Al-Sisi and the Japanese government, emphasizing Japan's support for SMEs in adopting greener practices. 'We believe this effort will help position Egypt as a regional hub for environmental innovation and sustainability,' he said. UNIDO's Patrick Gilabert echoed this sentiment, explaining that the campaign is part of a broader project to embed circular economy principles within Egypt's plastics value chain. Funded by Japan, the initiative aims to reduce plastic consumption, raise awareness, and strengthen technical capacity within local businesses. Gilabert noted that UNIDO is currently supporting 23 environmental projects in Egypt worth approximately $3.5bn, with an additional $4.6bn planned under Egypt's Vision 2030. Short films were screened at the event, highlighting the dangers of single-use plastics and the goals of the 'Reduce It' campaign. A panel discussion followed, focusing on regulatory approaches and circular economy practices in Egypt's plastics industry. The campaign forms part of Egypt's broader national strategy to phase out harmful plastic products and is embedded within the 'Enhancing Circular Economy Practices in the Single-Use Plastics Value Chain' project, jointly implemented by UNIDO and supported by the Japanese government. Officials say the initiative is expected to reduce demand for virgin plastic by promoting reusable alternatives—helping to cut carbon emissions, reduce environmental degradation, and improve public health. It also aims to stimulate green industry growth, create jobs in recycling and sustainable manufacturing, and reduce Egypt's reliance on imported materials. In closing, Minister Fouad thanked key partners—including UNIDO, the World Bank, the Japanese Embassy, Egyptian lawmakers, and civil society groups—for their support. She reaffirmed her commitment to championing African climate and sustainability priorities in her upcoming role as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Biden Era Single-Use Plastic Phase-Out In National Parks Rescinded
Campaigners have expressed their disappointment at the news the Department of Interior has rescinded an order made during the Biden administration to phase-out the sale of single-use plastics in national parks by 2032. Interior secretary Doug Burgum has signed a new secretarial order rescinding the previous order (3407) originally made in June 2022 to phase out the procurement, sale and distribution of single-use plastics and packaging across national parks and other public lands. According to the new order, the original ban presented 'operational and logistical challenges' across a range of functions, including visitor services, field operations and procurement. 'The policy also imposed mandates that restricted locally appropriate solutions and did not fully account for cost, performance, or safety considerations,' the new order states. The new order also directs executive departments and agencies to repeal or revise any policies that 'limit the availability of plastic products without a compelling scientific or statutory basis'. But environmental campaigners have expressed their deep disappointment at the move. The 5 Gyres Institute's senior strategist of policy initiatives, Paulita Bennett-Martin said the rescission order claims there is no compelling scientific basis for restricting plastics, but added the evidence is clear in a statement. Bennett-Martin said data from the 5 Gyres Institute confirms that single-use plastic is 'pervasive across federal lands', with plastic making up nearly 80% of pollution found in national parks. 'Plastics continue to break up into harmful micro and nano-plastics that threaten not only these protected ecosystems and wildlife, but also human health. 'We need our nation's leaders to listen to the science and safeguard our environment, public lands, and communities by advancing policies that reduce plastic pollution, not perpetuate it.' The 5 Gyres Institute also runs the Plastic-Free Parks project, which empowers volunteer community scientists around the country to log data on trash they find in national parks and federal lands. According to data submitted by volunteers, plastic is the most prevalent material polluting national parks for the third year in a row, making up nearly 80% of waste recorded in 2024. 'To protect these iconic landscapes and ensure their preservation, we need corporate accountability to immediately phase out single-use plastic packaging and transition to a zero-waste, circular model to safeguard future generations,' said Alison Waliszewski, director of regional policy and program development at the 5 Gyres Institute. Single-use plastic items made up the majority of waste found, with food wrappers, cigarette butts, bottles, bottle caps/rings, film, and bags included in the top 10 identifiable items. In 2022, Oceana released a nationwide poll revealing that 82% of American voters would support a decision by the National Park Service to stop selling and distributing single-use plastic at national parks. The poll also found 83% agreed that it is important that national parks remain free of plastic trash, and 76% agreed that single-use plastic items have no place in national parks. And in February 2025, Oceana released the results of another nationwide poll revealing that an overwhelming majority of U.S. voters support policies that reduce single-use plastics. Oceana's senior campaign director, Christy Leavitt said the nation's parks and other treasured public lands deserve better in a statement. 'Each year, millions of people visit America's national parks to experience their natural beauty, history, and culture, and plastic mars that experience, fouling the landscape, harming wildlife, and threatening native species,' added Leavitt. 'National parks are protected areas — but this action opens the floodgates to plastic. If the Interior Department won't protect our national parks from plastic, Congress must safeguard these special places."
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E&E News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Burgum ends Biden effort to curb plastic waste in parks
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has reversed a Biden-era move to phase out single use plastics in national parks and other public lands. The move follows President Donald Trump's executive order signed earlier this year that specifically targeted initiatives to use paper straws instead of plastic ones. The Interior Department under Biden administration began an effort to crack down on plastic products that are designed to be thrown away after one use — items like utensils, bags and plastic water bottles. Advertisement Burgum's order, signed May 20, said efforts to phase out single-use plastics created 'logistical and operational challenges' on public lands.
