DP World joins MACS initiative to cut maritime plastic waste across global ports
Plastic waste in shipping lanes poses risks to vessel operations and coastal ecosystems, where fresh produce is often loaded and unloaded.
GLOBAL – DP World has joined the Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS) to address ocean plastic pollution, a global challenge impacting ecosystems, coastal communities, and the resilience of supply chains.
For fresh produce exporters and food logistics investors, this initiative signals a shift toward sustainable waste management that directly affects the integrity of perishable cargo handling.
Why Ocean Plastic Matters for Food Logistics
MACS is the first industry-wide initiative that unites shipping companies, ports, and maritime stakeholders, including ship chandlers, suppliers, and caterers, to tackle ocean plastic and operational waste at scale.
The association provides a collaborative platform that enables members to share data, implement best practices, and contribute to certified plastic recovery projects, all aligned with the IMO’s Plastic Marine Litter Action Plan.
For food businesses, plastic waste in shipping lanes poses risks to vessel operations and coastal ecosystems, where fresh produce is often loaded and unloaded.
Direct Statements from Leadership
Glen Hilton, CEO and Managing Director for Asia Pacific at DP World, said: “Sustainability is central to how we enable global trade. By joining MACS, we are strengthening our commitment to reducing plastic waste across our port operations and logistics network and working with partners to implement solutions that can scale across global trade routes.”
Through MACS, DP World will draw on its operational expertise and global footprint to support scalable solutions that reduce plastic leakage across the maritime value chain from port operations to inland logistics, including efforts to reduce single-use plastics and improve waste management at key sites.
Oliver Kade, Director of MACS, said: “DP World’s participation in MACS marks an important step forward for the initiative. As a key player in global trade and logistics, their involvement strengthens our ability to address plastic pollution across complex supply chains. This is exactly the type of cross-sector collaboration needed to drive meaningful, measurable progress.“
Cleaner Ports, Safer Perishable Cargo
For food logistics investors, DP World’s commitment to reducing single-use plastics and improving waste management across ports and inland sites creates cleaner, more efficient handling environments for perishable goods.
Additionally, reduced plastic leakage helps protect coastal ecosystems where seafood and aquaculture operations thrive.
As global supply chains face growing scrutiny over their environmental impact, early adoption of sustainable practices positions logistics partners as preferred carriers for environmentally conscious food brands and retailers across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.
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