Global accord could cut plastic pollution by 80%

The findings of the report point to systemic changes that could reduce plastic pollution more than threequarters by 2040

NEW YORK: A year after international delegates agreed to strike a deal on plastic pollution and finalise it by 2024, the United Nations Environment Programme has launched a report laying out a path to dramatically reduce the volume of plastic that ends up in the environment.

Based on a framework of proven techniques to tackle plastic pollution, Tuesday’s report lays the groundwork and demonstrates what is possible. The findings point to systemic changes that could reduce plastic pollution more than three-quarters by 2040, while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and saving trillions of dollars. “The report shows that only an integrated, systemic shift from a linear to a circular economy can keep plastics out of our ecosystems and bodies, and in the economy.” UNEP director, Inger Andersen wrote.

The release comes ahead of a meeting of global delegates in the French capital later this month. It will be the second round of talks on the agreement, which the UN Environment Assembly has described as “the most significant environmental deal since the Paris (climate) accord.”

The world currently produces about 350 million tons of plastic pollution each year, causing biodiversity loss, global health and food supply issues.

The report calls for bans and agreements to eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastics — including those that cannot be recycled, reused or composted, as well as overpackaging or plastics that contain chemicals dangerous to human health.

It also lays out a three-pronged approach of reusing, recycling and switching to alternative materials.

Reuse measures — such as refillable bottles, reusable bags, bulk dispensers in grocery stores, deposit-return schemes, and packaging take-back schemes — are the lowest hanging fruit, cutting plastic pollution by 30% by 2040.

Countries such as France, and its 2021 anti-waste law, are already laying the groundwork to improve reuse rates through measures such as requiring large grocery stores to provide some form of reusable container for customers and banning disposable plates.

Improving recycling rates could be achieved through more stringent design standards and banning of problematic additives and polymers to ensure easier recycling. Removing fossil fuel subsidies would also make recycling more economic than producing virgin plastic, the report found. Improved recycling rates could lead to a 20% reduction in plastic pollution.

Countries such as Spain and the UK already have taxes and levies on virgin plastic production to help level the playing field. And Mexico increased recycling rates from 8.8% in 2002 to 56% in 2018 by incentivising recycling.