Environmental Sustainability Briefing: Plastic Waste Reduction, Carbon Credits, and Soil Innovation Draw Industry Attention

## Environmental Sustainability Briefing: September 2026 While the stories emerging this week originate outside the core maritime sector, they carry relevance for shipping and port operators increasingly held to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards by regulators, investors, and charterers alike. ### Alliance to End Plastic Waste Reports Significant Progress The Alliance to End Plastic Waste has released its 2025 Progress Report, marking the first year of results under its Strategy 2030 framework. According to the report, the Alliance has cumulatively reduced 378,147 tonnes of unmanaged plastic waste and captured value from 418,529 tonnes of plastic waste since its founding in 2019. The organisation has also catalysed US$641 million in funding commitments from third-party sources and impact investors over the same period. For the maritime industry, plastic waste reduction remains a pressing concern. Ocean-bound plastic pollution continues to draw regulatory scrutiny from bodies including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and port operators in key emerging markets are increasingly expected to demonstrate waste management credentials as part of broader sustainability frameworks. ### RBC Advances Forest Carbon Credit Strategy New York-based carbon project developer Chestnut has announced an agreement to deliver Improved Forest Management (IFM) carbon credits to RBC, a leading global financial institution. The credits are generated through practices such as extended harvest rotations and retention forestry, which increase carbon sequestration in managed forest landscapes. The transaction reflects continued institutional appetite for high-quality voluntary carbon credits as corporations seek to offset residual emissions. Shipping companies pursuing net-zero pathways under the IMO's 2023 GHG Strategy are similarly exploring carbon credit mechanisms as a bridging tool alongside investments in alternative fuels and vessel efficiency upgrades. ### Locus Agriculture Targets Soil Compaction with Glycolipid Technology Ohio-based Locus Agriculture is expanding commercial deployment of its Unpac® product, a glycolipid-based soil amendment designed to reduce soil density and improve water infiltration. Third-party laboratory testing and field trials indicate the technology may support stronger crop yields by addressing compaction — a persistent challenge in high-traffic agricultural operations. While primarily an agri-tech development, the story is of peripheral interest to bulk commodity shipping operators and agricultural exporters who monitor input innovations that could affect crop volumes and, by extension, dry bulk trade flows. --- *These developments underscore the broadening scope of environmental accountability across global supply chains, a trend maritime operators cannot afford to overlook as ESG disclosure requirements tighten in key jurisdictions including the EU and United States.*