Another Shipping Line Announces a Ban
Emirates Shipping Line has announced that it will no longer accept bookings for plastic waste shipments, starting 1 October 2026.
The Dubai-based Emirates Shipping Line (ESL) said in a recent notice that, as one of its environmentally responsible shipping practices, it has decided to stop transporting plastic waste in order to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
Photo: China Shipping Gazette
ESL further stated that it will no longer accept bookings for plastic waste shipments placed on or after 1 October 2026, and that any misdeclaration or inaccurate declaration may result in the responsible party being blacklisted and charged a cargo misdeclaration fee.
Michael Davies, ESL's Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director for the Middle East, said: "We believe the decision to ban the carriage of plastic waste is the right step forward and reflects our focus on compliant shipping practices."
ESL is the second shipping company to take a clear position on no longer transporting plastic waste; the CMA CGM Group announced a similar measure back in 2022.
Photo: China Shipping Gazette
The Basel Action Network (BAN) is a charitable organization dedicated to ending the international trade in toxic waste, and it has been pushing shipping companies to stop carrying plastic waste.
Christopher Hudak, BAN's Senior Policy Advisor, said: "ESL's decision is another important milestone toward ending the export of hazardous plastic waste to developing countries. ESL and CMA CGM have shown that shipping companies can play a leadership role on this issue, and we call on all members of the World Shipping Council to follow their example."
It is understood that hundreds of tons of plastic waste are shipped from developed to developing countries every day; although it is claimed to be intended for recycling, in reality this plastic waste is burned, dumped, or handled under unsafe conditions.