A $1.5 billion effort to combat plastic pollution has its first leader.
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a nonprofit company-funded effort, has appointed Jacob Duer as president and CEO.
Duer will join the group Oct. 1 after most recently serving as director for the United Nations Environment Program.
The alliance former early this year in the face of mounting pressure regarding plastic pollution in the environment, particularly in the oceans.
About 40 companies have come together to join the alliance a provide funding to create programs to tackle the problem. There was an initial pledge of $1 billion with a goal of raising $1.5 billion.
The alliance initially has focused on a few areas to begin its efforts, including collection of plastic waste along rivers that lead to oceans, municipal and city partnerships, idea incubation and information technology infrastructure, the group said.
"Jacob is an experienced, impact-driven, global leader with a breadth of expertise working across a broad range of stakeholders in the public and private sectors," alliance Chairman David Taylor said in a statement. Taylor also is CEO of Procter & Gamble Co.
The alliance wants to "develop, deploy and bring to scale solutions that will minimize and manage plastic waste and promote solutions for used plastics," the group said in announcing its CEO.
The alliance has attracted member companies throughout the plastics lifecycle, starting with chemical and plastics makers and ending with waste management and recycling companies. Also included are consumer goods companies, retailers and converters.