Geneva, 3 August – On 29 July 2022, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) launched a Chinese version of SPHERE: the packaging sustainability framework at the 2022 Green Recycled Plastic Supply Chain Forum in Chongqing, China. WBCSD China Office and the Green Recycling Plastic Supply Chain Group (GRPG) jointly compiled the translation.
Around 40% of all plastic waste comes from packaging. Asia accounts for 50% of global plastics production, with 29% made in China. Only 9% of all plastic in the world is recycled. Most of the waste ends up in landfills or leaks into the environment.
At the Forum, Maayke Aimee Damen, Director, Circular Economy, WBCSD, Tian Yan, Vice Chairman of China Plastics Processing Industry Association and Head of GRPG and Wei Dong Zhou, Director, WBCSD China, spoke about how the SPHERE framework could help to address the environmental challenges of plastics and packaging.
Maayke Aimee Damen said, “By combining existing metrics, methodologies and databases in a single framework, SPHERE provides a holistic overview of all environmental impacts and their trade-offs. Companies can use SPHERE to choose the most sustainable packaging option for their needs, and reduce environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the associated nature loss.”
Wei Dong Zhou said, “The Chinese version of SPHERE could be a vital tool for businesses in China in the field of plastic pollution control and circular plastics. By helping them reduce their environmental footprint and inform their long-term packaging sustainability strategy, the framework can help companies accelerate their progress toward net-zero and nature-positive targets.”
The 2022 Green Recycled Plastic Supply Chain Forum hosted policy and business discussions to build a circular plastics supply chain system and promote sustainable development in the industry.
The SPHERE framework defines packaging sustainability as maximum circularity and minimum environmental footprint while avoiding the presence of harmful substances.
If you are interested in learning more about SPHERE and our work on sustainable plastics and packaging, please contact Julie Cachat, Associate, Circular Plastics & Packaging.
For questions about the Chinese version of SPHERE, please contact Wei Dong Zhou, Director, WBCSD China.
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