Environment Award Finalist 2022
Created and launched by Bantam Materials UK Ltd. in 2019, the Prevented Ocean Plastic programme helps to establish infrastructure in coastal communities that lack formal waste management infrastructure and are at risk of ocean plastic pollution. By working with local recyclers, and helping them to develop new collection and aggregation centres, we give value to what would otherwise be discarded waste and incentivise the collection of ocean-bound plastic - elevating the industry and local community, while facilitating a just transition at each level of the supply chain. For World Oceans Day 2023, Bantam Materials UK Ltd. announced the 25 by 2025 initiative to develop 25 collection and aggregation centres in at-risk coastal communities that need them. Several collection and aggregation centres have already broken ground in the second-half of 2023 - including new geographies such as East Africa and South America - putting Prevented Ocean Plastic ahead of schedule for our 2025 goal. We hope to see 25 become 50, then 50 become 100, and so on.
We supply recycled PET (rPET) and recycled HDPE (rHDPE) to help brands and businesses across the UK and Europe achieve their sustainability targets. We do this by working with local recyclers in coastal areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution, to help build waste management infrastructure and incentivise its collection to ensure a just transition for all involved.
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We all know there’s an ocean plastic problem. According to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, over 17 million metric tonnes of plastic clogged the ocean in 2021, and that number is set to double or even triple by 2040. Sun and salt water degrade the plastic, making its removal a clean-up effort, whereas recycling is a preventative measure. As industry experts, the solution is clear, we need to collect and prevent this plastic before it enters the ocean. Since 2011, Bantam Materials UK Ltd. has been a global supplier of recycled plastics, proving that sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive. We recognised a need in the market - creating opportunity for consumers and brands to choose recycled materials, while helping to build collection infrastructure and create jobs in coastal regions that need them most - and in 2019, we launched the Prevented Ocean Plastic programme.
The programme works hand in hand with local recyclers in areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution to build waste management infrastructure and give value to discarded plastic. It can then be given a second life as new recycled products, in order to help companies reach their sustainability targets for 2025 and beyond. Our operating definition of ocean-bound plastic, was inspired by the pioneering work of Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering and 2022 MacArthur Fellow, Dr. Jenna Jambeck, and her research team. They utilised various criteria in their research, and it is important to consider these factors in conjunction, rather than looking at one aspect of the problem in isolation. Most importantly, the country or region lacks proper waste management infrastructure and collection incentives. Secondly, the infrastructure is being overwhelmed by population growth and/or increased tourism. Thirdly, there is a significant risk to wildlife and biodiversity if plastic contaminates their ecosystem. And finally, it is found within 50km (30mi) distance of an ocean coastline or major waterway that feeds into the ocean. Academic research is always at the core of what we do – offering tangible solutions to real-world problems – which is why we established the Prevented Ocean Plastic Research Centre in 2020, and our work continues to be inspired by the latest studies in the field.
The solution operates according to the implementation of our industry-leading Prevented Ocean Plastic Standards for recyclers and collection centres - with a focus on social equity, impact investment, and facilitating a just transition - and were developed in consultation with various external organisations. They incorporate the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) base code as part of their foundation, of which Bantam Materials UK Ltd. was the first recycled plastic supplier to become a member. The standards are independently audited by a third-party organisation to ensure compliance and impartiality.
To date, Prevented Ocean Plastic has prevented more than two billion plastic bottles from reaching the water. This is equivalent to 50,000 tonnes of recycled plastic, providing an alternative to 50,000 tonnes of virgin plastic usage. Our new-build infrastructure has created almost 2000 direct jobs and generated thousands of workdays for informal waste collectors, and we are currently working with over 30 brands to help them achieve their 2025 and 2030 sustainability goals.
This is so sensible. To capture the waste and recycle it before it hits the oceans and use it as a circular material. We delighted to have Bantam as members and want to foster circular interventions to form a significant part of the supply chain.
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