Following the successful commercial launch of the world's first waste-to-biofuels facility in Edmonton, Alberta, converting mixed household waste and unrecoverable plastics into fuels and chemicals, Enerkem is now seeking to leverage its carbon recycling technology expertise to help solve the ever-growing issues related to ocean plastics waste.
The company has engaged discussions with The Ocean Legacy Foundation, a Canadian non-profit organization which conducts recurring coastal cleanup expeditions, to explore ways in which soiled plastics can be recuperated from oceans to produce low carbon transportation fuels and chemicals by leveraging Enerkem's disruptive technology.
"Our breakthrough waste-to-biofuels and chemicals technology is already addressing the issues related to urban waste, including plastics. Through this innovative collaboration, we are committed to looking at concrete local initiatives to turn ocean plastics waste into valuable products", explained Marie-Hélène Labrie, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Communications, Enerkem.
According to the World Economic Forum, around 150 million tons of plastics are floating in our oceans, with an additional eight million tons entering the water each year. Despite plastics waste reduction and recycling efforts by government, municipalities and communities, the amount of plastics littering the world's marine environments is expected to triple within a decade.
Under the theme of Working Together on Climate Change, Oceans and Clean Energy, the G7 Ministerial Meeting underscores the importance of engaging and supporting ways to tackle climate change, improve the health of the world's oceans and transform the way we produce, transport and use energy.
