The World Is Drowning In Plastic Production

Plastic is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW). The worldwide production of plastics reached 413.8 million metric tons in 2023, with Asia being the largest producer. China alone accounted for 32% of global production in 2022, producing between six and 12 million metric tons of plastic products each month. North America ranks second, with a 17% share in 2022. The world produces around 350 million tons of plastic waste annually, with rich countries producing the most plastic waste per person. However, the mismanagement of waste, which includes the failure to recycle, incinerate, or store it in sealed landfills, is a significant issue in low-to-middle-income countries, leading to environmental pollution and health risks.

In 2023, the world produced 413.8 million metric tons of plastic

Asia is the largest producer of plastic in the world, with China alone accounting for 32% of global production in 2022. North America ranks second, with a 17% share in 2022. China's monthly production is estimated to be between six and twelve million metric tons.

The proliferation of plastic products has been extraordinary, and humans have become addicted to this nearly indestructible material. Plastic is cheap, versatile, and sterile, making it ideal for various applications, including construction, home appliances, medical instruments, and food packaging. However, when plastic waste is not properly managed, it becomes an environmental pollutant.

Rich countries tend to produce the most plastic waste per person, but the mismanagement of waste, which includes the failure to recycle, incinerate, or store it in sealed landfills, is more common in low-to-middle-income countries due to poorer waste management infrastructure. It is estimated that around one to two million tons of plastic enter our oceans each year, with most of it coming from middle-income countries, particularly in Asia.

To tackle the issue of plastic pollution, it is crucial to improve waste management practices, especially in poorer countries. While reducing plastic production can help, the more significant impact would come from ensuring that the waste is adequately managed through recycling, incineration, or sealed landfills.

China produces 6-12 million tons of plastic monthly

Plastic is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW). The world produces over 400 million tons of plastic waste each year, with Asia being the largest producer. China is the single largest producer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics, accounting for nearly one-third of global plastic production. China's share of plastic production has been steadily increasing in recent years, rising from 26% in 2014 to 32% in 2021.

China produced about 60 million tons of plastic waste in 2020, of which only 16 million tons were recycled. On average, only about 17% of the plastic used in China is recycled. China's plastic export volume has been continuously growing over the past few decades, and the country is home to about a third of the world's companies operating single-use plastic production facilities.

China's high plastic production and consumption contribute to plastic pollution, which is evident in the country. China has taken some measures to address this issue, such as banning single-use, non-degradable bags and straws, and the government is pushing businesses to reduce the use of disposable plastic packaging. However, the country's overall efforts to curb plastic waste have had mixed results. For example, while China's plastic waste production fell to 21.60 million tons in 2016, it rose again to 59.08 million tons in 2020, nearly double that of the United States, the next-highest producer.

China's monthly plastic production ranges from 6 to 12 million metric tons, with the highest monthly output recorded in December 2021 at 7.95 million metric tons. China's plastic industry is transitioning from quantity to quality, with a focus on technological innovation and eco-friendly concepts. The country's production of plastic products is expected to continue growing, and it will likely remain the world's largest plastic producer for the foreseeable future.

1 million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year

The world produces around 350 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, with Asia being the largest producer, and China alone accounting for 32% of global production in 2022. North America ranks second, with a 17% share in 2022.

The annual production of plastics has been increasing year after year, with the market value of plastics continuing to grow. This is due to the versatility of plastics, which can be used in a wide variety of products, displacing other materials such as wood, metal, and glass.

However, the mismanagement of plastic waste is a critical issue, with around one-quarter of the world's plastic waste being mismanaged or littered. This means it is not recycled, incinerated, or stored in secure landfills, and is instead leaked into the environment, including our oceans.

While estimates vary, recent studies suggest that around 1 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. This plastic pollution affects wildlife and ecosystems, and it is important to improve the management of plastic waste, especially in poorer countries, to tackle this problem. Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person, but it is the mismanagement of waste that contributes to plastic pollution.

57% of plastic waste is from beverage containers

Plastic is a valuable resource, but plastic pollution is an unnecessary and unsustainable waste of that resource. Packaging is the largest end-use market segment, accounting for just over 40% of total plastic usage. The containers and packaging category had the most plastic tonnage at over 14.5 million tons in 2018. This category includes bags, sacks, wraps, other packaging, PET bottles and jars, HDPE bottles, and other containers.

In 2014, 57% of the plastic beverage bottles sold in the US were water bottles—57.3 billion out of 100.7 billion. This is a significant increase from 1996, when 3.8 billion plastic water bottles were sold. The number of plastic water bottles sold in the US grew from 4 billion in 1997 to an estimated 26 billion in 2005, while the number thrown away increased from 3.4 billion to 22 billion. More than 60 million plastic water bottles are discarded daily in the US, with most ending up in landfills or incinerators, and millions littering streets, parks, and waterways.

The process of producing bottled water is also resource-intensive, requiring around six times as much water per bottle as there is in the container. The growing consumption of single-serving water bottles made from raw materials is an unnecessary waste of resources, as recycling businesses have the capacity to recycle these bottles, providing a cost-saving alternative to virgin resin for manufacturers.

To address the beverage container waste problem, manufacturers and packaging companies can improve the efficiency of packaging by increasing product concentration or shifting to larger bottles with the same total amount of product delivered. For example, a 20% shift in consumption from smaller to larger bottles could reduce the production of PET waste by over 10,000 tons annually in the US alone.

Only 9% of plastic is recycled annually

Plastic is a rapidly growing component of municipal solid waste (MSW). In 2018, the containers and packaging category had the most plastic tonnage at over 14.5 million tons. This category includes bags, sacks, wraps, and other packaging. Plastic is also used in durable goods such as appliances, furniture, and casings of lead-acid batteries. The total amount of plastics combusted in MSW in 2018 was 5.6 million tons, and landfills received 27 million tons of plastic that year.

While the amount of recycled plastics is relatively small, some specific types of plastic containers have a higher recycling rate. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, while the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%. However, overall, only about 9% of all plastic ever made has likely been recycled, according to a study by the University of Georgia. This means that the vast majority of plastic, about 79%, ends up accumulating in landfills or littering the natural environment.

The mass production of plastics, which began just six decades ago, has resulted in 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic, most of which is used in disposable products that become trash. Plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade, so the accumulation of plastic waste is a significant problem. The prediction that the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish by mid-century has become a rallying cry for action to address this issue.

To address the growing problem of plastic waste, a comprehensive global approach is needed. This includes rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, recycling strategies, and consumer use. The study's lead author, Roland Geyer, emphasizes the importance of measuring and managing plastic products effectively. With China accounting for a significant portion of global resin production and the United States ranking behind Europe and China in recycling, international cooperation is crucial in tackling this global issue.

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