Mexico City — Leaders of Mexico's plastics industry are meeting with federal lawmakers and civic leaders in an effort to produce a national plan to manage plastic waste in an economically viable and environmentally friendly way.
According to a Feb. 14 news release from national plastics industry association Anipac, the industry has proposed measures that would allow Mexico to “migrate towards a circular economy for plastics.”
Suggestions include promoting “better economic and company development practices” through “incentives” and other kinds of support, Anipac added.
The Mexican Senate is discussing what is being called a National Agreement for a New Economy for Plastics. Topics include innovative ecodesign, renewable energy initiatives, and ways for private companies, consumers and regional and national governments to manage single-use plastic products, according to Anipac.
“Plastic waste and contamination have captured the public's attention and that of the government and private companies,” Anipac President Aldimir Torres Arenas said.
“This is why the authorities, civil society and private businesses must work together. We need a systemic change to get to the root of the problem: a transition towards a circular economy where plastic never becomes waste.”
According to Anipac, whose headquarters is in Mexico City, an unspecified number of legislators were present at an initial work session.
“We applaud the initiative of the Senate of the Republic in convening this open parliamentary session and bringing together the industry, civil society, the public sector and academics to work towards a new plastics economy,” Torres said.
Anipac, or the Asociación Nacional de Industrias del Plástico AC, did not reveal meeting dates but indicating that they are ongoing.