Tackling marine and beach litter will be the focus of a new initiative launched by an environment campaign called the Plastics 2020 Challenge.
The Plastics 2020 Challenge is run by the plastic industry which sets its own environmental targets to help make the country greener.
Plastics 2020 Challenge spokesman Peter Davis said: Marine litter is hugely complex, multi-faceted and increasingly serious challenge. However, the simple fact is that waste, whether plastic or other, does not belong in the sea. Litter is primarily a result of human neglect and poor waste management and if we all acted responsibly there would be no reason for the large majority of it to be there.
Statements like this are easy to make but delivering on such a vision is much harder. That is why the search is on to find practical solutions to marine litter, for the benefit of future generations of mankind and sea life alike.
Marine Conservation Society pollution programme manager Dr Sue Kinsey welcomed the initiative by the plastics industry to tackle marine and beach litter.
She said: While the industry still has a long way to go, something they acknowledge themselves, it is refreshing to see the producers and manufacturers taking a positive approach. We look forward to joining the Plastics 2020 Challenge debate on marine litter and hope the industry can live up to its promises to make significant inroads on its environmental impact by 2020.