Global event tackles solutions for a world where plastic is used, but without its current footprint.

The 4th annual Plasticity Forum took place in Cascais, Portugal June 8-9, with the global event bringing together business and industry officials, sustainability experts, plastic producers and users, innovators, government representatives, NGOs and other thought leaders to discuss innovative solutions to the growing plastic problem facing our land and marine environments. The unique event's focus on upstream solutions include the theme "Designing for Circularity, and Opportunities in Action That Now Need Scale."

Some of the research, developments and initiatives included:

- Plastic bottles that can be upscaled into roof tiles for buildings in developing communities Building bricks made of hard-to-recycle plastic waste material which can be used in building construction

- A new report on the plastic-to-fuel industry was launched between with Ocean Recovery Alliance and the American Chemistry Council to help unlock the potential for plastic-to-fuel technologies to deliver economic and environmental benefits

- A new Net Benefit Analysis report to be conducted with a number of Plasticity participant companies to show the broad economic, social and financial impacts of making decisions related to waste reduction, new design, material use, packaging changes and use of increased recycled content

- Plastic made from algae, which can also be deployed along with the fish farming industry

Dr. Denise Hardesty, senior research scientist with CSIRO's Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, said, "Plasticity creates the critical conversation we need to be having around the world. These experts are the people making changes, and we collectively need these programs, products, opportunities and solutions to scale across countries."

"The Plasticity Forum is an inspiring event, which brought together a real mix of business, industry and entrepreneurs who are all doing important work which will result in reducing the problems of waste in our communities, waters and ocean," said Steve Russell, VP, plastics division, American Chemistry Council.

According to Doug Woodring, founder of Plasticity, "The global reach, along with the positive, solutions-based approach, have made Plasticity Forum an event like no others, engaging those interested in managing and recovering plastic as a resource; scalable innovations in plastic that save money; use of new materials; designing for sustainability; and solutions for a world where plastic is used, but without its current footprint."

Patty Long, senior VP of industry affairs at the Plastics Industry Trade Association (SPI), said, "Beyond big ideas and divergent perspectives, there is very meaningful dialogue which revolves around some real and proven solutions to some key issues related to plastic waste."

About Plasticity Forum

The Plasticity Forum is a cross section of thinkers and those who appreciate scale to expedite the solutions and innovations that exist today to keep plastic from becoming a problem for our communities and environment. Plasticity offers a global discussion and perspective on solutions, how to standardize across products or industries, and how to bring about new opportunities in production and recovery operations. www.plasticityforum.com.

Photo courtesy of artist Liina Klaus - Trash Land Art Exhibition, Plasticity Forum 2015