Global Shipping Firms Launch Maritime Association for Clean Seas to Combat Ocean Plastic

Leading shipping companies have announced the creation of a new industry alliance to tackle ocean plastic pollution and operational waste at scale. 

The Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS), founded by ocean impact organisation Seven Clean Seas (SCS), brings together founding members Berge Bulk, X-Press Feeders, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, and Britoil Offshore Services Pte Ltd. 

The alliance aims to deliver measurable reductions in plastic leakage and waste across global shipping operations, aligning with international sustainability goals.

Seven Clean Seas already has an established track record in plastic recovery, with more than four active projects and 100 local clean-up crew members operating between Indonesia and Thailand. The organisation claims to have removed over six million kilograms of ocean plastic to date, while also improving the lives of nearly 20,000 people in affected communities. 

By launching MACS, SCS and its partners intend to scale these efforts across the maritime sector, embedding waste reduction into procurement, vessel operations and portside reception systems.

The initiative is designed to support the International Maritime Organisation’s 2030 Action Plan, which calls for stronger industry action to reduce marine plastic pollution. MACS will focus on reducing plastic at source, improving measurement and monitoring of vessel waste, and strengthening portside waste reception facilities to ensure materials are properly managed.

The scale of the challenge is considerable. Oceans carry 90% of global trade, yet they face unprecedented environmental pressure, with an estimated 14 million tonnes of plastic entering marine ecosystems every year. 

“We are proud to stand alongside Seven Clean Seas and fellow MACS partners as a founding member of this vital initiative. By joining forces, we are taking action to protect the oceans that sustain life and global trade,” Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said in a statement.

Berge Bulk also highlighted the industry’s responsibility in a post on LinkedIn, noting that the maritime sector has both a “responsibility” and an “opportunity” to lead. “While shipping contributes only a small share of global plastic leakage, we can influence meaningful change across global supply chains,” the company said.

As MACS begins its work, the focus will be on practical measures that can be implemented quickly and scaled effectively. These include reducing single-use plastics in procurement, improving waste segregation and recycling on board vessels, and ensuring ports are equipped to handle waste responsibly. The alliance also intends to share best practices across the industry to encourage wider adoption of sustainable operations.

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