Marine litter is a serious global challenge that threatens ocean ecosystems. The global chemical industry is engaged in activities and partnerships to increase litter prevention; reduce, reuse and recycle materials; grow the waste management infrastructure; and develop sustainable end use markets for collected material.

Plastic packaging keeps foods, medicine, cosmetics and a host of other products fresh, sanitary and clean. Often, plastics can provide these benefits using significantly fewer resources and with lower environmental impacts than alternatives. However, more must be done to increase recycling, recovery and reuse of plastics so that they do not contaminate our environment. The U.S. plastics industry, for example, has committed by 2040 that 100 percent of plastics packaging is reused, recycled or recovered.

Chlorine chemistry helps control the spread of aquatic invasive species through ballast water exchange. Approved chemical technologies under the UN Ballast Water Management Convention include chlorine-based disinfectants, ozone, gas super-saturation and per acetic acid/hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, anti-fouling systems for ship hulls include paints, coatings and surface treatments help prevent the attachment of unwanted organisms.