Plastic pellets can enter the environment during production, storage and transport, where they pollute rivers and oceans and contribute to microplastics in the food chain. To drastically reduce these losses, Transuniverse has actively joined the programme Operation Clean Sweep (OCS).
OCS is an international initiative by the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) and the Plastics Industry Association in the United States. It is a voluntary programme that helps companies prevent the loss of plastic pellets, flakes and powders.
“Participating companies commit to improving their processes to ensure that microplastics do not end up in the environment. They take measures to prevent pellets from being released – for example during transshipment or transport – and respond appropriately in case of incidents by immediately sweeping up spilled pellets and collecting them separately,” says Britt Vorst, Sustainability Manager at Transuniverse.
Responding adequately to losses
An analysis of goods flows at Transuniverse showed that we transport far more pellets than expected. These are mainly raw materials supplied in bags, big bags and IBCs, and sometimes also used as filling material. “That is why it is crucial that packaging is suitable for transport and that trucks are loaded and unloaded correctly,” she explains. “Everyone in the chain shares responsibility.”
Separate waste streams
“Through our participation in OCS, we aim to raise awareness among all our partners: customers, handling staff, subcontractors, drivers and recipients. They must understand that when pellets escape, they must be swept up immediately and collected separately, so that they do not end up in the general waste stream,” she adds.
Would you like to learn more about how Transuniverse supports Operation Clean Sweep? Follow this link.
