Plastic Pellets: Loss prevention on industrial sites and response in the environment

Demand for plastic products has been on the rise since the end of World War II. The manufacture of plastic items involves the production of plastic pellets, an intermediary between the raw material (e.g. oil, gas, other bio-based substances) and the finished plastic product. In 2023, more than 310 million tonnes of plastic pellets were produced worldwide. As a result of possible operational losses throughout the production and processing chain or accidental losses during transport (by sea, river, rail or road), plastic pellets are released into the environment and can reach aquatic environments where they are liable to cause ecological and socio-economic damage.

Against this backdrop, this guide presents the main aspects to be considered in order to (1) prevent plastic pellet losses throughout the production and processing chain, (2) respond to incidents resulting in the release of plastic pellets into the environment. It draws primarily on a literature review, the knowledge developed by Cedre and the experience acquired during response operations following plastic pellet spills.

Contents

I. GENERAL ASPECTS

1. Definition and composition
2. General physico-chemical characteristics and properties
3. Modes of transport
4. Regulations
5. Environmental losses
6. Behaviour of plastic pellets 
7. Impacts of plastic pellets

II. PREVENTION OF INDUSTRIAL LOSSES IN THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Alert and notification procedures
2. Initial measures
3. Situation assessment
4. Decision-making
5. Determining priority response areas
6. Response

III / OPERATIONAL RESPONSE TO AQUATIC POLLUTION

1. Alert and notification procedures
2. Initial measures
3. Situation assessment
4. Decision-making
5. Determining priority response areas
6. Response

IV. CASE STUDIES AND FEEDBACK

1. X-Press Pearl, 2021 (Sri Lanka) – Shipping incident involving various products
2. MSC Susanna, 2019 (South Africa) – Cargo loss in a port
3. Yong Xin Jie 1, 2012 (China) – Cargo loss at sea
4. Pas-de-Calais, 2016 (France) – Road accident

V. TECH SHEETS

VI / FURTHER INFORMATION

1. Glossary and acronyms
2. Additional information
3. Bibliography