The marine plastic recycling program "Blue Circle" is showing China's innovative solution for healing oceans, said Erik Solheim, chairman of the Europe-Asia Center and former UN under-secretary-general.
"In Taizhou, they are now running a very exciting experiment. That is how to remove plastic from oceans. There are huge number of fishing boats going out to the sea from Taizhou. These fishing boats are not only bringing in fish but also bringing in plastic from the ocean," Solheim said at a special program of the China Global Television Network recently filmed in Hangzhou City of east China's Zhejiang Province.
Initiated in 2020, the Blue Circle program utilizes blockchain technology and the Internet of Things to track the full life cycle of marine plastic waste -- from collection to remanufacturing and resale.
The Blue Circle pays 0.20 yuan (almost 3 U.S. cents) for every plastic bottle collected -- a price several times higher than the market average. This is designed to supplement the incomes of local fishermen.
People can trace the journey of recycled plastic by scanning QR codes on goods, such as car parts, suitcases, and phone cases, made from certified plastic collected from the ocean.
"That plastic can be reused, like bottles are compressed, cut into pieces and made to small particles like diamonds. You can see on the photo there. These diamonds can then be used in new products like ties, scarves, trolleys for shopping centers, furniture, so many other products. So, what was raised is then getting added value and [these] become new products," said Solheim.
In 2023, the Blue Circle won the UN's highest environmental honor -- the Champions of the Earth award, standing out among more than 2,500 projects.
"And that is the circular economy the world so much desires. You should not waste anything. We should recycle it. That's exactly what they're doing in Taizhou. Bring in the plastic and recycle it into new products. [It's] wonderful at a time when we really need to handle the plastic crisis. There should be no plastic in the environment and the practical activities they are doing in Taizhou are showcasing how this can happen everywhere in the world," said Solheim.
Blue Circle shows China's innovative solution for healing oceans: former UN leader
