Starting October 1, 2026, Dubai-based Emirates Shipping Line (ESL) will completely cease accepting plastic waste shipments across its global network, becoming only the second major ocean carrier after CMA CGM (which enacted its ban in 2022) to enforce a blanket prohibition on this trade. Covering all materials classified under customs code HS 3915, ESL linked the policy directly to its commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and reducing environmental pollution. The decision comes after sustained advocacy by the environmental watchdog Basel Action Network (BAN), which has been urging members of the World Shipping Council to halt the practice of offshoring plastic waste from developed nations to developing countries with weaker environmental controls. Senior BAN officials hailed the move as a major milestone, while environmental groups continue calling on other global shipping lines to adopt similar bans ahead of stricter international regulations, including the upcoming EU Waste Shipment Regulation prohibiting plastic waste exports to non-OECD nations.