Ethan Clarke
Plastic is everywhere, from the packaging in the supermarket to the straws in our drinks. It's cheap, but its real cost is much greater than we realise. Plastic pollution is expensive, with the social and environmental costs estimated at $300-460 billion per year. This includes the health costs stemming from associated emissions, air pollution, and exposure to hazardous chemicals, as well as the cost of ocean clean-up and lost marine ecosystem services. In 2018, marine plastic pollution was estimated to have cost up to $7 billion in GDP reductions alone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Health care costs attributable to chemicals in plastics in the United States | $250 billion/year |
| Social and environmental costs of plastic pollution | $300-460 billion/year |
| Cost of plastic produced in 2019 alone | $3.7 trillion |
| Cost of marine plastic pollution in 2018 | $7 billion |
What You'll Learn
- The social and environmental costs of plastic pollution are estimated at USD 300-460bn per year
- The lifetime cost to society, the environment and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 alone was US$3.7 trillion
- Marine plastic pollution can create huge economic costs in the form of gross domestic product (GDP) reductions, estimated at up to US$7 billion for 2018 alone
- The health care costs attributable to chemicals in plastics in the United States are on the order of $250 billion per year
- The true cost of plastic could be significantly larger, as microplastics are now being found in human blood
The social and environmental costs of plastic pollution are estimated at USD 300-460bn per year
Plastic may seem cheap, but its real cost is much greater than we realise. The social and environmental costs of plastic pollution are estimated at USD 300-460bn per year. This includes the health costs stemming from associated emissions, air pollution, and exposure to hazardous chemicals, as well as the cost of ocean clean-up and lost marine ecosystem services. With microplastics now being found in human blood, the health consequences of that are yet unknown, and the true cost could be significantly larger.
A recent study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society estimates the health care costs attributable to chemicals in plastics in the United States are on the order of $250 billion per year, or 1.22% of the gross domestic product. Although this is a surprisingly large number, it is certainly a gross underestimation.
A new report by Dalberg, commissioned by WWF, reveals that the lifetime cost to society, the environment and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 alone was US$3.7 trillion – more than the GDP of India. Unless action is taken, this cost is set to double for the plastic produced in 2040. As it stands, humanity now produces more than 200 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, close to half of which is mismanaged: openly burned, dumped directly or leaked into the environment. More than 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year, creating huge economic costs in the form of GDP reductions, estimated at up to US$7 billion for 2018 alone. This is driven by the loss in revenue from tourism, fishing, aquaculture and others.
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The lifetime cost to society, the environment and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 alone was US$3.7 trillion
Plastic may seem cheap, but its real cost is much greater than we realise. A recent study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society estimates the healthcare costs attributable to chemicals in plastics in the United States are on the order of $250 billion per year, or 1.22% of the country's gross domestic product. This is a surprisingly large number, but it is certainly a gross underestimation.
The social and environmental costs of plastic pollution are estimated at USD 300–460 billion per year. This includes the health costs stemming from associated emissions, air pollution, and exposure to hazardous chemicals, as well as the cost of ocean clean-up and lost marine ecosystem services. Marine plastic pollution can create huge economic costs in the form of GDP reductions, estimated at up to US$7 billion for 2018 alone. This is driven by the loss in revenue from tourism, fishing, aquaculture and other industries.
Close to half of plastic waste is mismanaged: openly burned, dumped directly or leaked into the environment and more than 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year. Marginalised communities disproportionately bear the cost of the plastic lifecycle. Incineration plants and oil and gas refineries are built predominantly in low-income and marginalised communities, exposing them to health and economic risks.
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Marine plastic pollution can create huge economic costs in the form of gross domestic product (GDP) reductions, estimated at up to US$7 billion for 2018 alone
Marine plastic pollution can create huge economic costs in the form of gross domestic product (GDP) reductions. In 2018, the global cost of marine plastic pollution was estimated to be up to US$7 billion. This figure is driven by the loss in revenue from tourism, fishing, aquaculture, transport, and other ocean-based activities.
The costs associated with marine litter are divided into direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include the expenses for repair and replacement. For example, fisheries revenues can be impacted by damaged gear, and governments may have to spend money cleaning beaches where recreational activities are conducted.
The indirect costs are related to impacts on biodiversity and habitats, including costs resulting from decreased ecosystem service provision. For instance, the fisheries sector's revenue is further reduced due to the reduction in catches in the presence of marine plastics and lost or abandoned gear. Tourism industry revenue could also be impacted due to a reduction in tourists' visits and spending in the presence of marine debris.
The true cost of plastic pollution is likely to be much greater than these estimates. Plastic pollution is expensive, with social and environmental costs estimated at USD 300-460 billion per year. This includes the health costs stemming from associated emissions, air pollution, and exposure to hazardous chemicals, as well as the cost of ocean clean-up and lost marine ecosystem services. With microplastics now being found in human blood, the health consequences and costs of plastic pollution are yet to be fully understood.
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The health care costs attributable to chemicals in plastics in the United States are on the order of $250 billion per year
Plastic may seem cheap, but its real cost is much greater than we realise. A recent study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society estimates that the healthcare costs attributable to chemicals in plastics in the United States are on the order of $250 billion per year, or 1.22% of the country's gross domestic product. This is a surprisingly large number, but it is certainly a gross underestimation.
The social and environmental costs of plastic pollution are estimated at $300–460 billion per year. This includes the health costs stemming from associated emissions, air pollution, and exposure to hazardous chemicals, as well as the cost of ocean clean-up and lost marine ecosystem services. With microplastics now being found in human blood, the health consequences of that are yet unknown, and the true cost could be significantly larger.
Marine plastic pollution can create huge economic costs in the form of gross domestic product (GDP) reductions, estimated at up to $7 billion for 2018 alone. This is driven by the loss in revenue from tourism, fishing, and aquaculture. Marginalised communities disproportionately bear the cost of the plastic lifecycle. Incineration plants and oil and gas refineries are built predominantly in low-income and marginalised communities, exposing them to health and economic risks. Informal waste pickers are also exposed to significant health risks throughout the plastic waste processing cycle.
A new report by Dalberg, commissioned by WWF, reveals that the lifetime cost to society, the environment, and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 alone was $3.7 trillion—more than the GDP of India. Unless action is taken, this cost is set to double for the plastic produced in 2040.
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The true cost of plastic could be significantly larger, as microplastics are now being found in human blood
Plastic may seem cheap, but its real cost is much greater than we realise. A recent study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society estimates the healthcare costs attributable to chemicals in plastics in the United States are on the order of $250 billion per year, or 1.22% of the country's gross domestic product. This is likely a gross underestimation, as it does not take into account the social and environmental costs, which are estimated at USD 300–460 billion per year. This includes the health costs stemming from associated emissions, air pollution, and exposure to hazardous chemicals, as well as the cost of ocean clean-up and lost marine ecosystem services.
The cost of plastic pollution is not just financial, but also social and environmental. Marginalised communities disproportionately bear the cost of the plastic lifecycle, as incineration plants and oil and gas refineries are built predominantly in low-income and marginalised areas, exposing them to health and economic risks. Informal waste pickers are also exposed to significant health risks throughout the plastic waste processing cycle. Climate change, which the plastics lifecycle is contributing to, disproportionately affects disadvantaged groups.
The production of plastic also has a significant environmental impact. In 2019, the lifetime cost to society, the environment, and the economy of plastic produced was US$3.7 trillion – more than the GDP of India. Unless action is taken, this cost is set to double for the plastic produced in 2040. As it stands, humanity produces more than 200 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with more than 11 million tonnes entering the ocean each year.
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Frequently asked questions
A recent report by Dalberg commissioned by WWF reveals that the lifetime cost to society, the environment and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 alone was US$3.7 trillion.
The health costs of plastic are estimated at USD 300–460bn per year. This includes the health costs stemming from associated emissions, air pollution, and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Marine plastic pollution can create huge economic costs in the form of gross domestic product (GDP) reductions, estimated at up to US$7 billion for 2018 alone.
