Siegwerk, one of the world's leading suppliers of printing inks for packaging and labelling applications, becomes a strategic partner of Project STOP. The frontline initiative, jointly founded by Borealis and SYSTEMIQ, creates circular waste management systems in areas with high plastic leakage.
Since its launch in 2017, the STOP project has gained various industry and government partners. They are already working on it, design, implement and expand circular solutions, in order to curb pollution caused by plastic waste.
STOP project contributes to the circular economy
Siegwerk is now joining this Network of systemically relevant players who are committed to introducing local solutions in Indonesia. Every year, around 12 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in the sea. It is estimated that 50 per cent of the waste comes from just five Asian countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. With an annual consumption of more than six million tonnes of plastic and an estimated leakage into the sea of one million tonnes per year, Indonesia is the second largest producer of plastic waste that ends up in the sea.
In response, the Indonesian government has 2017 the „Marine Debris Action Plan“ created. In it, it commits to reducing plastic waste in Indonesia's oceans by 70 per cent by 2025. Project STOP is therefore working hand in hand with local communities and environmental authorities. Through town twinning projects throughout Indonesia, the aim is to contribute to the development of a cost-effective and circular waste management infrastructure contribute.
„We firmly believe that creating a circular economy is the solution to today's global waste problem. As a global player, we see it as our responsibility to actively support its realisation. And as a strategic partner of Project STOP, we are now able to fulfil our commitment in a way that enables local communities to successfully tackle the very real and immediate problems of plastic waste pollution by building a circular system.“ Alina Marm, Head of the Circular Economy Hub at Siegwerk
Siegwerk familiar with problems in Indonesia
Indonesia plays an important role for Siegwerk, as the country is home to numerous employees and customers. With a site in Tangerang and a blending centre in Surabaya, Siegwerk is familiar with the challenges throughout the country.
Today Project STOP supports Three cities with extremely high levels of plastic in the ocean. More than 55,000 people are already benefiting from the waste collection. Almost 5,000 tonnes of waste (650 tonnes of plastic) have been collected and more than 90 full-time jobs have been created.
Initiative aims to reach 45,000 people
Through his work in Muncar, Pasuruan and Jembrana the initiative aims to reach up to 450,000 people and prevent 40,000 tonnes of waste (4,700 tonnes of plastic waste) from being released into the environment every year. At the same time, the aim is to increase local employment and offer reproducible solutions and innovations for other cities.
„We are convinced that a complex problem like ocean pollution can only be solved through partnerships along the value chain. With Siegwerk as a strategic partner of Project STOP, we can accelerate the successful implementation and expansion of our city partnerships in Indonesia and create a foundation for further action in the region.“ Alfred Stern, CEO at Borealis
In addition to the current commitment Siegwerk actively utilises its strengths along the entire value chain and brings its Expertise in printing inks and varnishes We are involved in various industry initiatives such as CEFLEX and the Circular Economy Initiative Deutschland (CEID) in order to contribute to the realisation of a sustainable future.
[infotext icon]Siegwerk is a family business in its sixth generation of ownership. It is one of the leading international manufacturers of printing inks and individual solutions for packaging, labels and catalogues. Siegwerk employs around 5000 people worldwide in over 30 country organisations and has its headquarters in Siegburg near Cologne.Project STOP (Stop Ocean Plastics) was founded in 2017 by Borealis and SYSTEMIQ and works with cities to create effective waste management systems that prevent plastic from being discharged into the sea and to develop circular systems in Southeast Asia. http://www.stopoceanplastics.com,
Borealis is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals, fertilisers and melamine. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, the company currently employs over 6,900 people and is represented in over 120 countries[/infotext].
Source: Siegwerk
