Tackling Plastic Waste

Plastics play an important role in a more sustainable future. However, mismanaged plastic has created consequences with plastic finding its way into the oceans and natural environment.

From manufacturing to the end use of our products, preventing plastic loss to the environment is critical. Our global commitments to Operation Clean Sweep^® and internal plastic management programs are CPChem’s way of promoting responsible operations that keep valuable plastic materials where they belong and out of the environment. To date, CPChem has made five significant investments: The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Circulate Capital’s Ocean Fund I, Infinity Recycling, Closed Loop Partners’ Circular Plastics Fund, and most recently, Circulate Capital’s Ocean Fund Latin America and Caribbean. These investments make meaningful impacts on plastic waste reduction and support innovative projects around the world.

Efforts to Eliminate Plastic Waste in 2023

Operation Clean Sweep^® (OCS^®)

CPChem has been a member of OCS^® for more than two decades. OCS^® is a global initiative striving to achieve zero plastic resin loss to keep plastics out of waterways and other unintended locations. In the U.S., all CPChem operations follow enhanced OCS^® Blue membership guidelines, which involve a deepened commitment to plastic loss reduction and additional program requirements like the sharing of best practices, enhanced reporting, third-party audits and cross-industry collaboration.

Alliance to End Plastic Waste

CPChem is a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a collection of nearly 70 companies committed to driving action to eliminate plastic waste. This industry-founded organization helps to launch and establish pioneering projects that advance a circular economy and shape pathways to a more sustainable future. Since forming in 2019, Alliance projects have diverted more than 38,000 metric tons of unmanaged plastic waste thanks to project teams in 29 countries.

Circulate Capital

CPChem has joined Circulate Capital, an investor advancing a circular economy for plastics in growing nations, to launch a $65 million initiative to address plastic pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean. The goal of the initiative is to scale the recycling supply chain, address climate change and improve the economies of the affected nations.

Closed Loop Partners’ Circular Plastics Fund

Last year, CPChem became an investor in Closed Loop Partners’ Circular Plastics Fund. The Circular Plastics Fund is focused on meeting the growing need to advance the recycling of rigid and flexible plastics in the United States and Canada. The Circular Plastics Fund has made significant investments in a range of solutions, including cutting-edge sortation technology and recycling infrastructure for plastics.

Infinity Recycling

Infinity Recycling's Circular Plastics Fund invests in advanced recycling technologies to create markets for end-of-life waste streams. By investing in the Circular Plastics Fund, CPChem aims to help streamline the transition from a linear to a circular economy by producing significant and measurable financial and environmental returns.

A Second Act for Plastics

Last year, CPChem’s Sweeny, Clemens & Old Ocean facility donated six outdoor picnic tables made from recycled plastics to a local school district. Made using repurposed materials from residential plastic recycling programs, the new tables demonstrate one of the many convenient and functional applications of recycled plastics.

Additionally, the facility teamed up with local industry members to create a new recycled plastic playground at Surfside Jetty Park in Brazoria County. The new recycled plastic playground provides a safe place for families to spend time outside and signifies the importance of recycling plastics and keeping our oceans and watersheds clean of debris.