More than 20 companies and institutions from the port sector are participating in the “No plàstic” project

The member companies have given each employee a personalised cup so that no plastic is used

In addition, nearly 1,000 metal bottles for personal use and reusable have been distributed to the staff working on the docks and sources are being set up

València, November 4th, 2020.- The first assessment of 2020 shows that the companies that have signed up to the “No Plastics” project have continued to fight for the total elimination of plastic on a daily. The arrival of the pandemic has added new difficulties to this objective, as the greater demand for single-use containers has led to an increase in recycling efforts. Despite this added difficulty, many companies have reported the almost total elimination of plastic, as well as a significant strengthening of reuse and recycling measures.

Throughout 2019, the “No plàstic” campaign promoted by the Valencia Port Centre for Employment, Ecoport Port Authority of Valencia and Aportem – Puerto Solidario Valencia, achieved an initial reduction of between 50 and 100% of plastic waste. In 2020, despite the pandemic and the added difficulties it has brought with it, progress has continued to be made along these lines, with particularly imaginative measures that leave the objective of the total elimination of plastic close at hand. The “No plàstic” project is supported by over twenty companies, associations and institutions, representing a very wide representation of the Valencian port sector.

Towards the total elimination of plastic

According to the data provided by the companies, the general trend is still the total elimination of plastic in coffee and water machines, as well as the elimination of plastic bottles and their replacement by glass jugs and glasses. One of the most widespread solutions has been to give each employee a customised bottle and/or glass so that no disposable containers are used.

Action in the companies has even gone beyond the workplace, as, in addition to training actions among the staff, different initiatives have been organised to bring environmental awareness to the employees’ families.

The institutions involved have confirmed that, in certain tenders, such as those for water supply, it is already an essential condition that they consider the elimination of plastic, in order to replace it with cardboard packaging or similar.

Optimistic forecasts

At the beginning of 2019, one of the objectives of the “No plastic” campaign was to eliminate one million plastic bottles per year. Although this is difficult to quantify, the data provided by the companies makes one feel optimistic, as many of them are implementing measures against plastic in all their branches.

Another significant data is the reduction of plastic items in passenger shipping companies, with reductions that reach, in some shipping companies, more than a million and a half units per year, among plates, cutlery, sticks and glasses, having replaced plastic with wood or other recyclable materials. 

Also at the docks

It is hoped that in the coming months progress can be made especially in the fight against plastics. On the one hand, as soon as the pandemic subsides, the use of individual packaging will again be put aside. On the other hand, the campaign to deliver reusable water bottles and the installation of fountains on the docks is expected to be completed, so that the dockworkers’ collective can finish joining this ecological initiative. For the moment, 967 metal bottles for personal use and reusable have already been distributed to the port workers so that the plastic bottles can also be disposed of on the quays, as has already been done in a very forceful manner by the Valencian port companies.