The High Cost Of Producing Plastics

Plastic is cheap to produce, but the environmental cost is high. Plastic bags, for example, cost about a penny to produce, compared with 4-5 cents for a paper bag. However, the lifetime global cost of plastic for just one year is more than the GDP of India. WWF and global consultancy firm Dalberg have worked together to estimate the true cost of plastics to society and the environment, and the results are staggering. Building on existing models and data, Dalberg calculates that the lifetime cost of plastic produced globally in just one year (2019) is around A$5 trillion.

Plastic bags cost about a penny to produce

The low cost of plastic production is one of the reasons why it is so widely used. It is cost-effective, especially as volume increases. Plastic is used in high-volume manufacturing due to the consistency of parts and the range of mechanical properties available.

However, the tiny price tag on plastic products ignores a lot of costs that are largely invisible. For example, the lifetime cost of plastic produced globally in just one year (2019) is around $5 trillion. This includes damage caused to the economy and threats to wildlife. If urgent action is not taken, the lifetime cost of virgin plastic produced in 2040 is estimated to be around $10 trillion.

Plastic is cost-effective for high-volume manufacturing

The cost of producing plastic parts is determined by the number of cavities, which is driven by sales forecasts. The more plastic parts that are produced, the more cost-effective it becomes. This makes plastic a good fit for manufacturing, and it is used in every major industry, including medical, automotive, electronics, and housewares.

The consistency of parts and the wide range of mechanical properties available through plastic material selection are also factors that make plastic attractive for high-volume manufacturing. The ability to select the desired mechanical properties means that plastic can be tailored to the specific needs of the manufacturer, ensuring consistency across all parts.

However, the low cost of producing plastic does not take into account the hidden costs associated with plastic production, such as the environmental impact and the damage caused to the economy and wildlife. The lifetime global cost of plastic produced in just one year is estimated to be around $5 trillion, which is more than the GDP of India. Without urgent action, plastic production is likely to double by 2040, and the lifetime cost of virgin plastic produced that year could reach $10 trillion.

Plastic production is increasing

The low cost of plastic is one of the reasons for its abundance. A standard plastic grocery bag costs about a penny to produce, compared with 4-5 cents for a paper bag. The cost advantages of plastic increase as volume increases, making it a very good fit for manufacturing. Plastic is used to fabricate products in every major industry, including medical, automotive, electronics, and housewares.

However, the tiny price tag on plastic products ignores a lot of costs that are largely invisible. These costs are ultimately paid for by governments, people, and the planet. The lifetime cost of plastic produced globally in just one year (2019) is estimated to be around A$5 trillion. This includes damage caused to the economy and threats to wildlife.

Plastic costs are invisible

Plastic is used in high-volume manufacturing due to its cost advantages, the consistency of parts and the wide range of mechanical properties available through plastic material selection. For example, a standard plastic grocery bag costs about a penny to produce, compared with 4-5 cents for a paper bag.

The cost of plastic is increasing, driven by virgin plastics that are derived from fossil fuels. Without urgent action, plastic production is likely to double by 2040, and plastic pollution could triple by 2040. That would put the lifetime cost of virgin plastic produced in 2040 at around A$10 trillion, more than the combined GDP of Germany, Canada, and Australia in 2019.

The true cost of plastics to society and the environment is staggering, and the bill is being paid by all of us.

Plastic costs less than paper

The cost of producing plastic is largely invisible, and the true cost of plastic to society and the environment is staggering. In 2019, the lifetime cost of plastic produced globally in just one year was estimated to be around A$5 trillion. This includes the damage caused to the economy and threats to wildlife.

Plastic is often used in high-volume manufacturing due to its cost advantages, the consistency of parts, and the wide range of mechanical properties available through plastic material selection. As the volume of plastic production increases, it becomes even more cost-effective.

Without urgent action, plastic production is likely to double by 2040, and plastic pollution could triple. This would put the lifetime cost of virgin plastic produced in 2040 at around A$10 trillion, more than the combined GDP of Germany, Canada, and Australia in 2019.

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