The Plastic Legacy: How Much Remains?

Plastic is everywhere—in our homes, our oceans, and even our food. It is a versatile and valuable material, but when not properly managed, it becomes an environmental pollutant. With the world producing over 450 million tons of plastic each year, up from just 2 million tons in 1950, the impact of plastic waste on our planet is a growing concern. While some efforts have been made to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic, the majority of plastic is never recycled, with only 9% of plastic waste being successfully recycled globally. As a result, plastic pollution is increasing, with an estimated 8 to 12 million tons of plastic entering our oceans annually and contributing to the growing problem of microplastics.

Plastic production has increased 200-fold since 1950

Plastic is a cheap, versatile, and sterile material used in various applications, including construction, home appliances, medical instruments, and food packaging. The first synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was produced in 1907, marking the beginning of the global plastics industry. However, rapid growth in global plastic production didn't happen until the 1950s.

The increase in plastic production is largely due to the increased use of plastic packaging, which accounts for more than 40% of non-fiber plastic. Additionally, the development of new types of plastics that are easier and cheaper to recycle has contributed to the rise in production. However, this does not mean that they are being recycled; only 9% of all plastic ever made has likely been recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills or the environment.

The plastic waste problem is a global issue, with plastic ending up in oceans, rivers, and landfills. It is estimated that about 3% of all plastic produced annually ends up in the ocean, with eight million metric tons added each year. This plastic pollution has severe consequences for marine life and ecosystems, with more than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals dying from plastic pollution annually.

Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled

Plastic has become an integral part of our lives, with its versatile, sterile, and cheap nature making it a popular material in construction, home appliances, medical instruments, and food packaging. However, the mismanagement of plastic waste has become an environmental concern. Mismanagement refers to plastic waste that is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills, and is, therefore, more likely to leak into the environment.

The global analysis of all plastics ever made and their fate reveals a startling fact: of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic produced, only 9% has been recycled. This means that 6.3 billion metric tons have become plastic waste, with 79% accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter. At this rate, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills, which is 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building.

The United States, in particular, struggles with plastic waste management, with 91% of plastic waste in the country not being recycled in 2018. This is partly due to the economic inefficiency of recycling plastic, as it is far cheaper to produce new plastic products from scratch. Additionally, many recycling programs only accept limited types of plastics, with plastic bottles being the most commonly recycled item.

To address the plastic waste problem, a comprehensive global approach is necessary. This includes rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, and consumer habits. While some progress has been made, such as the development of 100% recyclable plastics, the majority of plastic is still not recycled. Improving waste management strategies, especially in low- to middle-income countries where plastic waste is more likely to end up in the ocean, is critical to tackling this issue.

Plastic waste in oceans

Plastic has become an integral part of our lives, with its versatility, cheapness, and sterility making it useful in construction, home appliances, medical instruments, and food packaging. However, the mismanagement of plastic waste, especially in low- to middle-income countries, has led to a significant amount of plastic ending up in our oceans, causing marine plastic pollution.

Marine plastic pollution refers to the presence of plastic particles in the ocean, ranging from large items like bottles and bags to microplastics formed from the breakdown of plastic waste. Eighty percent of marine debris is plastic, and it accumulates in gyre regions, forming garbage patches. Plastic pollution has been found in various marine habitats, including the deep sea, Great Lakes, coral reefs, beaches, rivers, and estuaries.

The sources of oceanic plastic pollution are primarily the 10 countries of China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. These countries, particularly those in Asia, contribute about 90% of all plastic that reaches the world's oceans. This is due to poorer waste management infrastructure and the high consumption of single-use plastics.

The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is significant. Aquatic life faces threats of entanglement, ingestion, and suffocation from plastic debris. Microplastics, in particular, are ingested by numerous species, affecting their metabolic rate and growth. As plastic continues to break down in the ocean, the resulting microplastics can be consumed by fish and other marine organisms, potentially entering the human food chain. The full extent of the health risks associated with microplastics in our food systems is not yet known.

Addressing the issue of plastic waste in oceans requires a comprehensive approach that involves rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, recycling strategies, and consumer behaviour. While recycling is an important part of the solution, it is not the only answer. Reducing plastic production and consumption, as well as improving waste management strategies, are crucial to tackling the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans.

Plastic waste in landfills

The accumulation of plastic waste in landfills has severe consequences. One critical issue is the formation and spread of microplastics, which are created as plastic waste degrades over time. These microplastics can be transported by air and leachate, infiltrating surrounding environments and posing risks to both wildlife and human health. The degradation of plastic waste can also result in the release of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through oxidative photodegradation, further exacerbating the environmental and health risks associated with plastic pollution.

The mismanagement of plastic waste in landfills is a pressing issue, particularly in low- to middle-income countries. Inadequate waste management infrastructure contributes to significant plastic leakage into nearby waterways, increasing the risk of aquatic ecosystem contamination. Open burning of plastic waste, commonly practised in regions with insufficient waste management, releases toxic emissions that pose additional environmental and health hazards.

To address the problem of plastic waste in landfills, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes improving waste management practices and policies, reducing plastic consumption, promoting recycling and reuse, and exploring innovative solutions such as microbial degradation. By tackling these issues on a global scale, we can mitigate the harmful effects of plastic pollution and work towards a more sustainable future.

Some companies are taking initiatives to tackle the problem of plastic waste in landfills. For example, BASF, one of the largest petrochemical and plastic producers, has partnered with students at Harvard University to map U.S. and international plastic recycling programs. This collaboration aims to identify opportunities for recycling, reusing, and recirculating plastic products, demonstrating the potential for industry and academia to work together in addressing the plastic waste crisis.

Plastic waste in low-to-middle-income countries

Plastic is a cheap, versatile, and sterile material used in a variety of applications, including construction, home appliances, medical instruments, and food packaging. However, when plastic waste is not properly managed—that is, when it is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills—it becomes an environmental pollutant.

The amount of mismanaged plastic waste varies across the world but tends to be much higher in low-to-middle-income countries. This is because these countries tend to have poorer waste management infrastructure. As a result, most plastic flowing into the ocean today comes from middle-income countries, particularly across Asia. A 2017 study estimated that Asian countries contributed 86% of plastic emissions to the ocean.

The cost of plastic waste management is significantly higher for low- and middle-income countries than for high-income countries. For example, the total lifetime cost for one kilogram of plastic waste in a high-income country is US$19, compared to US$150 for middle- and lower-income countries, and US$200 for lower-income countries. This disparity is due in part to the fact that product and system design considerations are typically made in high-income countries and by multinational companies, leaving low- and middle-income countries with minimal influence over the design of plastic products and how they are managed at the end of their life cycle.

Establishing and implementing a UN global plastic pollution treaty with binding rules can help create a fairer system that empowers low- and middle-income countries to manage plastic waste more effectively. Such rules could include regulating the most high-risk plastic products and ensuring that products are designed to be reused and/or recycled, regardless of the country they are produced or used in.

Frequently asked questions