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Departing WRAP chief to lead global plastic initiative

An Australian philanthropic organisation, Minderoo, has appointed the outgoing WRAP chief executive, Marcus Gover, as director of its “No Plastic Waste Initiative”.

Dr Marcus Gover who will join Minderoo in February 2023

Dr Gover announced earlier this year that he would be leaving the resources charity WRAP this month. He will be succeeded by Harriet Lamb (see letsrecycle.com story). Dr Gover takes up his new post in February 2023 while Ms Lamb will take up her new post in March.

Minderoo said that having spent more than 25 years tackling environmental issues and influencing policymakers, Dr Gover joins a global team “driving significant shifts in how plastics are produced, used, and responsibly recycled”.

The organisation said Dr Gover brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and will be overseeing “civil society communities to pursue both regulatory and market-based solutions to plastic pollution.”

The initiative’s projects, it explained span the plastics value chain, focusing on key issues such as transparency, human health impacts, safe redesign, and effective management of existing fossil-fuel plastic.

Credible research

Director of Minderoo’s Planet Portfolio, Dr Tony Worby, said, “We are delighted to have Marcus join us at a time where our commitment to collaborate and lead internationally credible research puts us at the forefront of contributing knowledge to the process of drafting a global plastics treaty.

“Marcus has a track record of impacting change and a proven ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders – an integral part of what Minderoo does across this and other initiatives. He joins a team dedicated to solving the plastic pollution crisis by equipping policymakers with the knowledge to create meaningful regulation that has the potential to drive massive change.”

During his time at WRAP, Dr Gover helped create The UK Plastics Pact, which brings together government and businesses from across the entire plastics value chain to deal with the problem of plastic waste.

Marcus has a track record of impacting change and a proven ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders

– Dr Tony Worby, Minderoo

 

Proud

Dr Gover said: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved at WRAP. Now in its third decade and with projects in more than 40 countries, it is on a purposeful path to combat the root causes of the climate crisis. Plastic needs to be seen as a cause and a way to remedy this problem.
“So it excites me to join Minderoo Foundation at this critical juncture as they embark on bringing transparency to the plastics supply chain, revealing the environmental and human risks associated with the harmful chemicals used in the production of plastics, and supporting the vital work of designing safe and sustainable alternative materials.”

It excites me to join Minderoo Foundation at this critical juncture

– Dr Marcus Gover


One of Dr Gover’s first duties as director of the No Plastic Waste Initiative will be to launch the Plastics Waste Makers Index 2023, which, said Minderoo, is expected to reveal a deepening waste crisis and will include key recommendations for polymer producers, investors, financial institutions, policymakers, and other companies in the supply chain.

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