More Single-Use Plastic Waste Being Produced Than Ever Before

More Single-Use Plastic Waste Being Produced Than Ever Before, Study Finds

Jamie Hailstone

Feb 7, 2023,04:30am EST

Plastic Pollution At Dangerous Levels In The World's Oceans

Despite growing consumer pressure and regulation, more single-use plastic waste is being produced now than ever before, according to a new study.

A new report – Plastic Waste Makers Index 2023 - by Australia’s Minderoo Foundation claims an additional 6 million metric tons of waste was generated in 2021 compared to 2019, almost entirely made from fossil fuels.

It also warns that single-use plastic is fast becoming a climate crisis, as well as pollution crisis.

According to the report, emissions from single-use plastics in 2021 were equivalent to the total emissions of the United Kingdom - 450 million metric tons.

The report also warns recycling is failing to scale fast enough and remains a marginal activity for the plastics sector.

It claims from 2019 to 2021, growth in single-use plastics made from fossil fuels was 15 times that from recycled plastics.

And the report argues only decisive regulatory intervention can solve what amounts to market failure in scaling up recycling.

In particular, it calls for scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions from plastic polymers to be included in net zero climate targets and strategies.

And it calls for a levy on fossil-fuel polymer production and/or consumption to generate funds for scaling plastics collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure.

The report also highlights the work Far Eastern New Century (FENC) and Indorama Ventures are doing to produce recycled polymers at scale.

It adds a further eight companies have recently set ambitious 2030 recycled polymer targets of at least 20 per cent of production.

Compared to the previous index in 2021, it found signs that the industry in general is taking circularity more seriously, but warned this will only amount to greenwashing if words are not backed up by action and investment.

Minderoo Foundation chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest said there needs to be fundamentally different approach, that “turns the tap off on new plastic production”.

Toby Gardner, a senior research fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute said it was a “much-needed” report, which “demonstrates more clearly than ever how much single-use plastics blight our environment”.

“Decisive government action is needed both to drive down consumption and to scale-up recycling through regulation,” added Gardner.

While Nicholas Mallos, vice president of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program said it confirms what scientists have been modeling and predicting for years, namely that single-use plastics are on the rise.

“Unfortunately, we can expect that this will have devastating consequences for our ocean,” said Mallos.

“When more single-use plastics are produced, more end up in our ocean, choking and entangling marine life and leaching toxic chemicals.”

He added he hoped the report would highlight the need for governments, investors, and companies to make plastics reduction a key part of climate action.

In November, a report warned a key commitment for global corporations to use only reusable, recycle or compostable plastic packaging by 2025 will not be met.

The report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment Programme said this was due to a lack of investment in recycling infrastructure and flexible packaging, according to the report.

Sumber :

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiehailstone/2023/02/07/more-single-use-plastic-waste-being-produced-than-ever-before-study-finds/?sh=70060d0837e8