Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings joins new global alliance to help end plastic waste in the environment

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Ochi, hereinafter “MCHC”) today announced that it will join the Executive Committtee of a new alliance of global companies launched to advance solutions to reduce plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean.

MCHC is a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (hereinafter ”AEPW”). AEPW is currently comprised of nearly 30 corporations, including P&G, BASF, and Shell Chemicals, located throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

AEPW is making an initial 5-year, $1.5 billion commitment to invest in solutions to eliminate plastic waste in the environment. AEPW is a stand-alone, not-for-profit organization composed of companies from across the plastics and consumer goods value chain, including chemicals and plastics companies, consumer goods producers, retailers, converters, and waste management companies. AEPW will work with governments, multilateral institutions, companies, non-government organizations, and communities to support investments and programs over the next five years to help eliminate plastic waste in the environment though initiatives in four key areas:

- Infrastructure development to manage waste and increase recycling;

- Innovation to develop and bring to scale new materials and product designs that minimize waste and new recycling technologies that create value from all post-use plastics;

- Education and engagement of governments at all levels, communities, businesses, and even individuals to mobilize action:

- Clean up of concentrated areas of waste in the environment, particularly in rivers and other major conduits that carry land-based waste to the sea.

MCHC conducts business with the vision of realizing the “sustainable well-being of people, society and our planet Earth”, which we call “KAITEKI”. As a prominent member of the chemical industry providing a broad range of plastic materials throughout the world, MCHC will assume a leading role in AEPW.

We believe our participation in AEPW is not only our responsibility but also an opportunity for innovation, a chance to create value to society. We will support this effort to address the issue of plastic waste and work with our alliance partners towards a circular economy and a sustainable future for future generations.