Alexei Volkov
Plastic is a cheap, versatile and nearly indestructible material. Humans are addicted to it. We produce over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and some reports indicate that up to 50% of that is for single-use purposes. It’s estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic produced since mass production began | 8.3 billion metric tons |
| Plastic produced annually | 380 million tons |
| Plastic produced annually for single-use purposes | Up to 50%<co: 1>/co: 1> |
| Plastic dumped in oceans annually | 10 million tons |
| Plastic sent to landfills in 2018 | 27 million tons |
| Plastic projected to be in landfills by 2050 | 12 billion metric tons |
| Plastic that is recycled | 9% |
What You'll Learn
Plastic waste in skincare products
Plastic waste is a huge problem, with 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic produced since mass production began 60 years ago. Most of this plastic is used in disposable products that end up as trash. In 2018, 27 million tons of plastic ended up in landfills, and it's estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year.
Skincare products are a significant contributor to plastic waste. Despite some consumers' best efforts to buy products in 'recyclable' packaging, most skincare components can't be recycled because of their size. One person reported that their two-person household produced 24.24kg of non-food plastic waste annually, mostly from skincare products. If everyone in the UK produced the same amount of plastic waste, it would be the same weight as 4,900 blue whales.
The plastic in skincare products is often used for single-use purposes, such as face wipes and cotton pads, which are used for a few moments but remain on the planet for several hundred years.
To reduce plastic waste from skincare products, consumers can switch to reusable alternatives, such as cloth wipes and cotton pads, and choose skincare products in recyclable or compostable packaging.
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Plastic in the ocean
Plastic is a material that has become integral to our lives. Mass production of plastics began just six decades ago, and since then, we have produced 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic, most of which is used in disposable products that end up as trash. We are producing over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and some reports indicate that up to 50% of that is for single-use purposes.
Despite our best efforts to recycle, it is estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. This is because 91% of plastic isn't recycled. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. That amount is 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building.
Even if we are eco-conscious, we may be surprised to find out how much plastic waste we generate annually. For example, a two-person household can produce 24.24kg of non-food plastic waste annually. If everyone in the UK produced the same amount of plastic waste, it would be the same weight as 4,900 blue whales, could fill 232,000 Olympic swimming pools, or circle the earth over 400 times.
The proliferation of plastic products in the last several decades has been extraordinary. Humans are addicted to this nearly indestructible material. Plastic is cheap and incredibly versatile, with properties that make it ideal for many applications.
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Plastic in landfills
Plastic is a material that has only been mass-produced for the last six decades, yet in that time, we have created 8.3 billion metric tons of it. Most of this plastic is disposable and ends up as trash. Humans produce over 380 million tons of plastic every year, with up to 50% of that being for single-use purposes. This means that plastic is used for just a few moments, but remains on the planet for several hundred years.
In 2018, landfills received 27 million tons of plastic. This was 18.5% of all MSW landfilled. If present trends continue, by 2050 there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. That amount is 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building.
The proliferation of plastic products in the last several decades has been extraordinary. Humans are addicted to this nearly indestructible material because it is cheap and versatile. However, our reliance on plastic is having a devastating impact on the environment.
Landfills are one of the main destinations for plastic waste. When plastic ends up in landfills, it can take hundreds or even thousands of years to decompose. As plastic does not biodegrade, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics. These microplastics can then be ingested by animals and make their way up the food chain, potentially causing harm to human health.
The amount of plastic in landfills is a growing problem that needs to be addressed. Reducing our reliance on single-use plastics and improving recycling rates are two ways that we can help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills.
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Plastic recycling
We are producing over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and some reports indicate that up to 50% of that is for single-use purposes. It’s estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year.
Despite considering themselves pretty eco-conscious, many people are shocked to see how much plastic waste they generate annually. A two-person household can produce a staggering 24kg of plastic waste. If everyone in the UK produced the same amount of plastic waste, it would be the same weight as 4,900 blue whales, could fill 232,000 Olympic swimming pools, or circle the earth over 400 times.
Even the scientists who set out to conduct the world’s first tally of how much plastic has been produced, discarded, burned or put in landfills, were horrified by the sheer size of the numbers. “We all knew there was a rapid and extreme increase in plastic production from 1950 until now, but actually quantifying the cumulative number for all plastic ever made was quite shocking,” says Jenna Jambeck, a University of Georgia environmental engineer who specializes in studying plastic waste in the oceans.
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Plastic production
The mass production of plastics began just 60 years ago, and since then, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been created, most of it in disposable products that end up as trash. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. This amount is 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building.
The proliferation of plastic products has been extraordinary, and humans are addicted to this nearly indestructible material. Plastic is cheap and incredibly versatile, with properties that make it ideal for many applications. However, despite considering themselves eco-conscious, many people are shocked to see how much plastic waste they generate annually. For example, a two-person household can produce 24.24kg of non-food plastic waste annually, mainly from skincare products that cannot be recycled due to their size.
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Frequently asked questions
Humans are producing over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and some reports indicate that up to 50% of that is for single-use purposes.
A two-person household can produce 24.24kg of non-food plastic waste annually.
In 2018, landfills received 27 million tons of plastic. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills.
