From packaging to electronics, construction materials to clothing, plastics are everywhere. The demand for plastic has risen dramatically in recent years, driven by increasing population growth, urbanisation, and rising consumer demand. The volume of plastic produced in 2023 was over 400 million metric tons, and this shows no signs of declining. Growth is forecasted at an average rate of 3 – 4% per annum.
This rapid expansion of plastic use is outpacing the development of effective waste management solutions. As of 2022, only around 9% of the 9.2 billion metric tons of plastic ever produced has been recycled, the rest ends up in landfills or in our oceans. This mismanaged plastic waste is projected to double to 121 million tonnes per year by 2050 with emissions from plastic pollution set to increase by 37% by mid-century.
Plastics however are not just a waste issue, the impact from them spans their entire lifecycle. From fossil fuel extraction, ocean microplastics pollution to their presence in the human body. These impacts exacerbate all three elements of the ‘triple planetary crisis’: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Recycling is a partial solution
The actual process to convert recyclable plastics is not as green or simple as it might seem. For starters, not all plastics can be recycled. Contaminants like food waste and labels can complicate recycling efforts. This leads to lower quality of recycled plastic or sometimes for the entire batches to be discarded. Moreover, mixed plastics or composite materials are difficult or impossible to recycle with current technology.
Employing processes such as Mechanical Recycling or Advanced Chemical Recycling are energy intensive. Even with optimal recycling systems, a substantial portion of plastic waste remains unprocessed.
The circular economy framework shifts away from the current production model of ‘take-make-waste’ to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.’
The Global Plastics Treaty
In 2022, 175 nations endorsed a United Nations resolution to establish a legally binding framework by 2024 to combat plastic pollution. Draft proposals highlighted measures such as:
- Capping production
- Mandatory recycling targets
- Eliminating single-use plastics
- Innovative business models (e.g. encouraging circular economies where plastics are reused and redesigned to minimise waste)
Potentially, by 2050 mismanaged plastic waste would reduce by 90% and emissions by a third.
Delegates from around the globe recently converged in Busan, Republic of Korea. They came with high hopes for a reduction in the growth rate of plastic production. It would have presented a historic opportunity to cement ambitious and actionable policies on plastics.
Unfortuantely, negotiations ended without an agreement. The central issue lay in conflicting interests over plastic production. A coalition of 95 countries, including the EU, UK, and several African and South American nations, advocated for a cap on plastic production, emphasising its role in climate change. Conversely, oil-rich nations argued it would exacerbate economic inequalities. These industries benefit from the production of plastics. We can only hope the forthcoming year achieves more than thus far on this issue.