FAQs
How do you define ocean-bound plastic?
We define ocean-bound plastic as plastic that has not yet found its way into the ocean and is classified as “mismanaged waste.” That is, plastic that is not being collected and not likely to be collected and is found on the ground within 50 kilometers of a waterway or coastal area.
Due to the high rate of fishing gear abandonment, NextWave Plastics includes reclaimed used fishing gear in our definition of ocean-bound plastic eligible for use in member companies’ products.
How much plastic will you ensure is kept out of the ocean as a result of NextWave’s efforts?
At the Our Ocean Conference in Bali, Indonesia in October 2018, the NextWave Plastics member companies announced a collective goal to divert 25,000 metric tons of plastic from entering the ocean by the end of 2025. This goal is in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.1, to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
How do you determine what are priority areas for supply chain development?
NextWave is committed to utilizing the best available science from scientists such as Dr. Jenna Jambeck, Dr. Jason Locklin, and others to help identify key geographies where waste is vulnerable to entering the ocean. This research helps inform the geographic priorities for supply chain development, with the goal of maximum positive environmental impact.
In addition, we minimize greenhouse gas emissions and overall environmental impact by asking NextWave member companies to consider the distance to manufacturing facilities when determining priority geographies for ocean-bound plastic sourcing. Each member company is committed to keeping their environmental footprint as low as possible and minimizing the distance ocean-bound plastic material needs to be shipped for product manufacturing.
How is NextWave unique?
NextWave members are committed to working together in a collaborative manner to advance progress on the cessation of marine litter. Notably, there are market competitors sitting across the table working together towards creating solutions for integrating ocean-bound plastics into their products and packaging.
NextWave is committed to ensuring that its process is accessible, easily understood, and verifiable. This philosophy is rooted in the principles for the group. Further, we are inviting NGOs and scientists to become part of this initiative to review and inform the group’s work and ensure maximum social and environmental benefit.
How is NextWave different from the New Plastics Economy Initiative?
NextWave and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Initiative are both working towards the same end state: keeping plastic out of the marine environment. NextWave is fulfilling one of the key recommendations put forth by the New Plastics Economy Initiative to drastically reduce the leakage of plastics into natural systems and our work is very much complementary, rather than competitive, with each other. NextWave and Ellen MacArthur Foundation are committed to staying engaged to ensure that complementarity persists and we can learn from and benefit from each other’s experiences.
How are NextWave member companies working to reduce their use of plastic?
Member companies recognize there is quite a bit of “low-hanging” plastics throughout their operations and supply chains that can be minimized or eliminated. Each company will evaluate and prioritize opportunities for plastics reduction across operations, shipping and receiving, events, guest experience, manufacturing and even supplier engagement.
How do I become a member of NextWave?
Email our team at hello@nextwaveplastics.org. Let us know who you are and why you’d like to become a member company, and we will follow up with a brief interview. Eligible candidates are multinational companies and material suppliers interested in collaborating with a group of like-minded peers and furthering the ocean-bound plastic economy by producing viable ocean-bound plastic product use cases. All member company applicants will be reviewed by The Circulate Initiative and current NextWave member companies.