Next phase of Project STOP Ocean Plastics announced in Indonesia

Borealis, a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers, announces that it has confirmed majority funding for Project STOP Ocean Plastics (STOP). Project STOP is a joint initiative with SYSTEMIQ and Sustainable Waste Indonesia. It works with city governments to eliminate leakage of plastics into the ocean, increase plastics recycling and support the wider system changes required for a plastics circular economy. The funding secures the start of Project STOP’s second phase.

Plastics can deliver a vast range of sustainability benefits, from increasing energy efficiency to preventing food waste. However, the leakage of plastic litter into the ocean is a significant issue worldwide. Borealis has jointly developed Project STOP with SYSTEMIQ, an advisory and investment firm that aims to tackle system failures, as one part of its approach to addressing this problem.

Phase one of Project STOP resulted in the successful completion of feasibility and baseline studies and other preparatory work. Phase two will see the establishment of the first city partnership, in Indonesia. In common with other South East Asian countries, Indonesia’s economic growth and plastics consumption has outpaced its ability to manage plastic waste. This has made Indonesia the world’s second largest source of marine plastic debris, after China. The first city-partnership project will take place in Muncar, a major fishing port in East Java suffering from plastic litter in its harbour, beaches and rivers.

Project STOP aims to:

• achieve zero leakage of plastic waste into the environment, by improving waste collection and sorting;
• increase plastic recycling and establish a plastics circular economy, by strengthening the supply chain from waste collection to recycling companies, which in turn will generate new revenues and jobs; and
• benefit the local community, by reducing the impact of plastic waste on public health, tourism and fisheries.

“Addressing marine litter is a critical challenge for our industry and a key focus of Borealis’ social engagement strategy. We are pleased to continue funding this industry-leading initiative, which is an important step towards creating a plastics circular economy,” says Mark Garrett, Borealis Chief Executive. “We are also happy that Borouge, our Joint Venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), is supporting this project.”

"The next phase of Project STOP is a major milestone in our efforts to keep plastics out of the ocean,” explains Martin Stuchtey, Founder and Managing Partner of SYSTEMIQ. “There is a great need to accelerate circular waste management solutions in Asia and we are hugely excited to design and deliver this new city partnership model, together with Borealis and our government partners in Indonesia."

Source: Borealis AG