The True Cost Of Plastic Packaging

Plastic packaging is marketed as the go-to material for packaging, seemingly perfect in its affordability. At a mere $1/kg, plastic is the epitome of modern convenience. However, the environmental and health impacts of plastic packaging are staggering, and the true cost of plastic is much higher than its market price. In this article, we will explore the hidden costs of plastic packaging, including its impact on public health, ecosystems, and the global economy, and why sustainable alternatives are crucial for our future.

Plastic packaging costs $1/kg

The direct market price of plastic is $1 per kilogram, but this does not take into account the environmental cost attributed to the production and consumption of plastic, which is significant. In 2019, this cost amounted to $250 billion for the 73 million metric tonnes of plastic produced, which translates to approximately $3.42 per kilogram. When the environmental impact cost is added to the market price, the actual cost of plastic is much higher than $1/kg.

Plastic packaging waste also represents a major economic burden through direct disposal costs and the massive expenses required to clean up plastic pollution. The costs of simply collecting, sorting, disposing of and attempting to recycle plastic waste exceed $32 billion annually. Beyond that, governments, groups and concerned citizens must undertake costly clean-up efforts to remove plastic pollution. Marine plastic pollution alone can devastate economies through impacts on tourism, fishing and other industries.

There are also less visible costs associated with plastic packaging, such as brand reputation risk. Companies that use plastic packaging may face backlash from consumers and stakeholders who are concerned about the environmental impact of plastic. As a result, they may lose customers and sales, which can have a negative impact on their bottom line.

The environmental cost of plastic packaging is significant

The environmental impact of plastic packaging waste is catastrophic and far-reaching. The lifetime cost to society, the environment, and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 alone has been revealed to be US$3.7 trillion. In 2019, the environmental cost attributed to the production and consumption of plastic was $250 billion for the 73 million metric tonnes of plastic, which translates to approximately $3.42 per kilogram.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics pose a serious threat to public health and cost the U.S. an estimated $250 billion in increased health care costs in 2018. Marine plastic pollution alone can devastate economies through impacts on tourism, fishing, and other industries. There are also less visible costs in the form of brand reputation risk.

The wide variety of plastic types and formulations complicates recycling efforts. Different types of plastics often require different recycling processes, and some cannot be economically recycled at all.

Plastic packaging waste represents a major economic burden

The costs of simply collecting, sorting, disposing of, and attempting to recycle plastic waste exceed $32 billion annually. Beyond that, governments, groups, and concerned citizens must undertake costly cleanup efforts to remove plastic pollution. Marine plastic pollution alone can devastate economies through impacts on tourism, fishing, and other industries. There are also less visible costs in the form of brand reputation risk.

The wide variety of plastic types and formulations complicates recycling efforts. Different types of plastics often require different recycling processes, and some cannot be economically recycled at all. Plastic packaging waste has a significant economic impact, and the true cost of plastic is the sum of its market price and its environmental and health impact costs.

Plastic packaging poses a serious threat to public health

Plastic packaging is marketed as the go-to material for packaging due to its affordability. It costs around $1/kg. However, the environmental cost attributed to the production and consumption of plastic is significant. In 2019, this cost amounted to $250 billion for the 73 million metric tonnes of plastic, which translates to approximately $3.42 per kilogram. The lifetime cost to society, the environment and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 alone has been revealed at US$3.7 trillion.

The health and environmental havoc that single-use plastics bring far outweighs any of their perceived benefits. Plastic packaging waste represents a major economic burden through direct disposal costs and the massive expenses required to clean up plastic pollution. The costs of simply collecting, sorting, disposing and attempting to recycle plastic waste exceeds $32 billion annually. Marine plastic pollution alone can devastate economies through impacts on tourism, fishing, and other industries.

The links between plastic pollution and miscarriage are also being explored. In 2020, close to 200 environmental and public health organizations led by the UNWRAPPED Project released a Call to Action in response to a recently issued peer-reviewed Scientific Consensus Statement signed by 33 world-renowned scientists warning that chemicals used in single-use plastics and food packaging represent a significant threat to human and planetary health, particularly the health of children.

Plastic packaging has a negative impact on ecosystems

Plastic packaging is marketed as a convenient and affordable material for packaging, with a direct market price of around $1/kg. However, the environmental and health costs of plastic packaging are significant. In 2019, the environmental cost attributed to the production and consumption of plastic was $250 billion for 73 million metric tonnes of plastic, which translates to approximately $3.42 per kilogram. This means that the actual cost of plastic is much higher than its market price.

Secondly, plastic packaging contributes to land pollution. It does not break down easily and can take hundreds of years to decompose, resulting in landfill overcrowding and damage to the surrounding environment. The slow decomposition rate of plastic means that it continues to accumulate in landfills and oceans, creating a long-lasting hazard for wildlife and the ecosystem.

Thirdly, when plastic packaging is burned, it releases toxic fumes into the air, causing harm to both humans and animals that breathe in the air.

Finally, the wide variety of plastic types and formulations complicates recycling efforts. Some types of plastic cannot be economically recycled at all, and different types of plastics often require different recycling processes. This makes it challenging to reduce plastic waste and mitigate its negative impact on ecosystems.

Frequently asked questions