Dart Container鈥檚 21 US plastic facilities have achieved Operation Clean Sweep Blue (OCS) status after exceeding rigorous standards to eliminate industrial litter and marine debris. The facilities all achieved the elite product stewardship recognition in less than two years due to their success in eliminating industrial plastic loss into the environment. Achieving OCS Blue recognition is part of Dart鈥檚 sustainability commitments, centered around innovation, inspiration and investment in sustainable programs and practices.
The OCS Blue achievement places Dart among the best companies in the US for its effectiveness in preventing plastic from entering the environment or becoming marine debris. The 21 facilities even exceeded OCS鈥� rigorous set of standards and reporting requirements necessary to achieve the OCS Blue recognition.
鈥淒art has led our industry for decades with practices and policies focused on improving the environment and decreasing litter and marine debris,鈥� said Pam Dolbee, Dart Regional Environmental Health and Safety Manager. 鈥淥ur products give people the freedom to enjoy their food and drinks anywhere鈥攁nd we聽accept聽our聽responsibility聽for the environmental effects of that freedom. Achieving OCS Blue status is another commitment on our part toward reducing the impact of our products on our neighborhoods, waterways and planet.鈥�
To achieve elite OCS Blue status, Dart facilities had to eliminate pellet, flake, and powder loss by conducting site audits, increasing employee awareness, and improving equipment, processes and procedures as needed. For example, through the OCS and OCS Blue auditing process, Dart鈥檚 manufacturing facility in Waxahachie, Texas, implemented new processes and installed filtering screens to catch plastic before water runoff enters holding ponds and installed larger catch bins to prevent plastic bead spillage during material delivery from rail cars. Dart鈥檚 Chicago facility also modified the way they unload plastic to further prevent loss and spills.
For more than 25 years the plastics industry has promoted Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), a campaign dedicated to helping every plastic resin handling operation achieve zero pellet, flake and powder loss. The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) invite companies to take their commitment 鈥� an annual pledge committing to OCS principles by聽plastics companies聽or聽plastics employees聽鈥� to the next level.