Enerkem commits to taking action on ocean plastics waste

• Waste-to-biofuels company pledges to help advance climate action, and endorses the Ocean Plastics Charter, during the G7 Environment, Energy and Oceans Ministerial Meeting

MONTREAL, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Enerkem Inc. (www.enerkem.com), a world-leading waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer, announced today at the G7 Environment, Energy and Oceans Ministerial Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that it will be exploring opportunities to take action on ocean plastics waste and marine litter.

Following the successful commercial launch of the world's first waste-to-biofuels facility in Edmonton, Alberta, converting mixed household waste and unrecoverable plastics into fuels and chemicals, Enerkem is now seeking to leverage its carbon recycling technology expertise to help solve the ever-growing issues related to ocean plastics waste.

The company has engaged discussions with The Ocean Legacy Foundation, a Canadian non-profit organisation which conducts recurring coastal cleanup expeditions, to explore ways in which soiled plastics can be recuperated from oceans to produce low carbon transportation fuels and chemicals by leveraging Enerkem's disruptive technology.

"Our breakthrough waste-to-biofuels and chemicals technology is already addressing the issues related to urban waste, including plastics. Through this innovative collaboration, we are committed to looking at concrete local initiatives to turn ocean plastics waste into valuable products", explained Marie-Hélène Labrie, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Communications, Enerkem.

According to the World Economic Forum, around 150 million tonnes of plastics are floating in our oceans, with an additional eight million tonnes entering the water each year. Despite plastics waste reduction and recycling efforts by government, municipalities and communities, the amount of plastics littering the world's marine environments is expected to triple within a decade.

Under the theme of Working Together on Climate Change, Oceans and Clean Energy, the G7 Ministerial Meeting underscores the importance of engaging and supporting ways to tackle climate change, improve the health of the world's oceans and transform the way we produce, transport and use energy.

Tackling global marine litter and plastic pollution was one of the major outcomes highlighted during the G7 Leaders' Summit, held last June in Charlevoix, Quebec. During the Summit, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the European Union have agreed to the Oceans Plastics Charter. Enerkem is endorsing this initiative which aims at moving toward a more resource-efficient and sustainable approach to the management of plastic including increasing capacity to manage plastic as a resource.

About Enerkem

Enerkem produces advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals from waste. Its disruptive proprietary technology converts non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste into methanol, ethanol and other widely-used chemicals. Headquartered in Montreal (QC), Canada, Enerkem operates a full-scale commercial facility in Alberta as well as an innovation centre in Quebec. Enerkem's facilities are built as prefabricated systems based on the company's modular manufacturing infrastructure that can be deployed globally. Enerkem's technology is a prime example of how a true circular economy can be achieved by diversifying the energy mix and by making everyday products greener while offering a smart, sustainable alternative to landfilling and incineration.

www.enerkem.com

SOURCE Enerkem Inc.

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