Backers of a new effort to combat the plastics pollution problem are about taking action, not just pledging to take action.
The World Wildlife Fund is teaming with six well-known companies to launch ReSource: Plastic, a program designed to help companies learn strategies to prevent plastic pollution, the environmental group said.
ReSource: Plastic wants to help "companies align their large-scale plastic commitments from aspirational to meaningful, measurable action," organizers said.
Initial members of the effort include McDonald's, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks, Tetra Pak and Coca-Cola Co.
"ReSource is designed to identify the concrete changes that will make the biggest impacts in reducing a company's plastic pollution footprint," Nik Sekhran, chief conservation officer at WWF, said in a statement.
"To get closer to our goal of no plastic in nature will take nothing short of transforming the entire value chain. With ReSource, companies now have access to more advanced tools to maximize, measure and multiply their commitments to make this a reality," Sekhran said.
There's no shortage of environmental groups making efforts to help end plastic pollution, and WWF is working with Ocean Conservancy and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as "thought partners" aiding the new program.
Procter & Gamble, based in Cincinnati, sells consumer products around the world and has been vocal in its efforts address issues facing plastic packaging.
"Addressing the plastic problem in our oceans, rivers and land is everyone's responsibility, including the companies that use much of the plastic in the world today. It's a complex issue with no one-size-fits-all solution, and that's why we're so energized by the approach WWF is taking with the ReSource program," said Virginie Helias, vice president and chief sustainability officer at P&G.
"ReSource will bring a systems approach in partnership with many stakeholders — common metrics, best practices, accountability — that is much needed to accelerate progress on long-term solutions," Helias continued.
Both WWF and the Ocean Conservancy have been loud voices regarding plastic pollution in recent years.
Michael Goltzman is vice president of global policy, environmental sustainability and social impact at Coca-Cola.
"Solving the world's plastic waste problem requires collective action across all sectors of society," he said in a statement. "Through platforms like the WWF's ReSource activation hub, we can share knowledge, measurement goals and collaborative frameworks to advance a circular economy."
Companies joining the effort can impact change by prioritizing activities that will yield the greatest impact, implement activities and methodology to measure progress, and collaborate with others to "incite new solutions and investments," the new group states.
ReSource: Plastics estimates participation by 100 companies could prevent 10 million metric tons of plastic waste. More information is available at www.resource-plastic.com.