Two of Borealis’ key sites in Belgium have been certified by Operation Clean Sweep, an international initiative aimed at preventing pellet loss.
After extensive third-party audits according to the Operation Clean Sweep Standard in December 2023, the sites in Kallo and Antwerp achieved the Operation Clean Sweep Certificate, a unified and equitable certification scheme for pellet handlers across the entire value chain.
This recognition comes after contributing to the development of the standard via a successful pilot audit in 2021. The Operation Clean Sweep Standard is the next evolution of an international programme dedicated to preventing the loss of plastics pellets during manufacturing, transportation and final conversion processes. Plastic pellets, also known as nurdles, are small pre-production plastics particles that, if improperly managed, can contribute to water pollution and harm aquatic/marine life.
In order to comply with the standard, Borealis put in place a set of on-site measures aimed at preventing and responding to pellet spills, should they occur. Notable initiatives include the installation of big and small preventive measures to keep pellets in their designated systems as well as retention measures such as screens, pellet separators, and skimmers at various operating sites. Borealis aims to have all of its polyolefin locations Operation Clean Sweep certified by the end of 2024.
“Receiving the certificate is a testament to our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and emphasises our purpose of re-inventing essentials for sustainable living,” said Thomas Gangl, Borealis chief executive.
