Reducing plastic use through smarter procurement offers the maritime industry a practical opportunity to improve operational efficiency, strengthen supply chain resilience, and reduce the risk of plastic leakage into the marine environment.

Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans is not only an environmental issue – it is a commercial one. And the maritime industry has a crucial role to play in preventing plastic leakage into the seas through sustainable procurement to protect the waters that literally carry its business.

Shipping keeps the global economy moving through transport of raw materials, food, vehicles, medical supplies, electronics and other cargo across oceans and continents to supply diverse markets, carrying 90% of world trade.

But behind this complex network is a massive hidden challenge – plastic.

Plastic dependence across maritime

Maritime operations rely heavily on plastic materials – from pallet wrap and cargo strapping to packaging film and onboard consumables – many of which are designed for short-term use but can have long-lasting environmental consequences if poorly managed.

When mismanaged, plastic waste can contribute to marine pollution through pathways such as garbage discharges, cargo losses, poor waste handling, and lost fishing gear — against the wider backdrop of more than 11 million metric tonnes of plastic entering the ocean globally each year from both land- and sea-based sources.

Minimising environmental impact by reducing plastic waste represents an opportunity for the maritime industry to boost operational resilience and ESG performance, amid mounting regulatory and public pressure.

Regulatory and corporate imperative

The conversation around ocean plastic has for years focused on waste management and clean-up. These efforts matter, but are focused on tackling the problem after plastic becomes pollution.

The bigger opportunity starts much earlier – with procurement.

Curbing plastic consumption at source lowers reliance on inconsistent port-side waste management systems, and reduces operational inefficiencies and disposal costs.

This has become a regulatory imperative with the IMO Action Plan on marine litter that aims to reduce plastic pollution from ships through measures to be implemented by 2030. But it is also a matter of corporate responsibility and reputational risk as ESG performance becomes a competitive differentiator, with stakeholders demanding measurable action, not just commitments.

Sustainable procurement

Procurement is a solid and effective starting point for reducing ocean plastic through proactive purchasing strategies aligned with circularity principles.

Sound procurement decisions prevent unnecessary plastic materials entering vessel operations in the first place, which is often more practical and cost-effective. And they can also shape future supply chains by influencing materials selection, manufacturing demand and recycling potential.

But this means a change of mindset by the industry away from the typical linear model of ‘buy-use-dispose' that depends on new plastic production, generates large volumes of single-use materials and increases risk of plastic leakage to the environment.

The issue is not simply how much plastic the maritime industry uses and switching to alternative materials – it is how the industry thinks about plastic in the first place. Circular thinking shifts the focus from short-term consumption to long-term material value.

Procurement decisions must also consider operational reliability, availability, scalability, crew practicality, and supply chain feasibility.

Promoting collaborative action

Investing in responsible business practices with smarter procurement based on circular thinking requires a behavioural shift that entails coordination across operators, suppliers, ports, logistics providers, and internal stakeholders.

But reducing unnecessary plastic use can deliver tangible business benefits – from lower material consumption and simpler waste handling to reduced operational complexity and stronger ESG performance.

The Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS) is an industry-led collaborative platform bringing together maritime stakeholders to reduce plastic consumption, improve waste transparency, and accelerate practical action across the maritime value chain in support of the IMO’s marine plastic litter ambitions.

This is increasingly a commercial issue as much as an environmental one: the OECD has highlighted the significant economic costs associated with plastic pollution, including environmental damage, clean-up burdens, and systemic inefficiencies.

And this makes prevention a commercially smarter strategy than managing the consequences downstream.