Not long ago, liner giant CMA CGM announced that it has banned all ships from transporting plastic waste, a move that has received support from NGOs.
But Maersk recently expressed a different view. The shipping company, also headquartered in Europe, warned that stopping the transportation of plastic waste will not only not improve the marine environment, but may also prevent the transportation of this waste to recyclable sites.
The NGO Plastic Change has urged Maersk to stop shipping plastic waste after rival CMA CGM announced it would no longer ship plastic waste for environmental reasons. Louise Lerche-Gredal, head of Plastic Change, wrote in an article, “It is time for Maersk to take a stance on whether they will continue to be part of the waste transport issue. Plastic waste not only contributes to pollution, it also contributes to the climate crisis. , and affect the most vulnerable societies in the world.”
Maersk said it would not do what CMA CGM did because banning the transport of plastic waste due to environmental concerns is not a good idea. "We do not think a blanket ban on the transport of plastic waste is feasible because such a ban would prevent us from helping responsible companies and organisations to transport plastic waste and other recycled materials to recycling sites in a responsible manner."
According to a Feb. 11 press release from CMA CGM, the decision to stop shipping plastic waste comes as the French carrier wants to work to prevent plastic waste from being "exported to destinations where sorting, recycling or recycling cannot be guaranteed." “About 10 million tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean every year. If we don’t take action, this number will triple to 29 million tons per year in the next 20 years, which will cause irreversible damage to marine ecosystems, flora and fauna ."
CMA CGM said it transported around 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2021. Maersk doesn't disclose the volume of veteran plastic waste shipped, but according to Plastic Change, Maersk ranks third.
Maersk emphasizes that it is "a responsible company and we of course take environmental protection seriously. Ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory procedures regarding the import and export of plastic waste has always been embedded in our business and daily activities."
Maersk also works with an ocean cleanup organization. The organization recycles plastic waste in the Pacific, and stopping the shipment of plastic waste will prevent Maersk from assisting the organization in delivering the collected plastic to recycling sites.
