By Dan Edel
Unilever, the fifth largest plastic polluter in the world is taking steps to do something about it. The British-Dutch company produces products for the food and beverage industry along with health and beauty products.
In a report released by Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) in October, it identified the top corporate plastic polluters in the world and urged those companies to take immediate action to make changes. With a need for these corporations to address the primary issue of reducing plastic dependence and also important, using the plastic we currently have rather than producing more new plastics to add to the problem.
Unilever alone owns more than 400 brands, so their decision to make changes can have a big effect. The company has just recently signed an agreement with UK recycling and waste management company Viridor. The two companies have agreed to an initial five-year contract for recycled plastic, according to a statement released by Viridor on November 20th.
Viridor has a new plant set for operation in 2021. According to Viridor the £65m Avonmouth facility will be the largest multi-polymer reprocessing plant in the UK. Recycling of post-consumer bottles, pots, and other materials containing PET, PP, and HDPE materials will be handled at the plant.
