Plastic Production In The Us: An Annual Overview

Plastic is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW) that is polluting land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood. In 2019, the US generated an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was roughly five times the global average per capita. With plastic demand showing little sign of slowing down, US plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

Plastic packaging is the highest-demand use case for plastic

Plastic is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW). The world produces over 380 million tons of plastic annually, with the US contributing significantly to this figure. While plastic is used in various durable and non-durable goods, plastic packaging constitutes the highest-demand use case for plastic.

Plastic packaging is extensively used in the food and beverage industry, catering to the demands of contemporary lifestyles. It offers excellent protection for products, is lightweight, and can be designed to suit specific needs. For instance, pouches are gaining popularity due to their lower plastic material requirements and convenient closure choices. Plastic packaging also helps maintain food flavour and streamlines cooking and storage processes. The packaged food and beverage sector is experiencing robust global growth, driven by rising urban populations, changing lifestyles, and increasing e-retail.

The food and beverage sector is the dominant player in the plastic packaging market. Rigid plastic packaging, including bottles and jars, cans, trays, and containers, is the market leader due to its durability and strong protection against external elements. Plastic bottles are widely used for beverages because of their low cost, convenience, and superior performance. Thermoformed packaging, such as trays and containers, is also popular in the food and beverage industry as it increases the shelf life of products and enhances their aesthetic appeal.

The medical industry also relies on plastic packaging for its chemical resistance, transparency, and durability. Plastic packaging ensures that medical devices remain uncontaminated, facilitating sterile procedures. The transparency of plastic materials allows for accurate monitoring and quick identification of potential issues. Additionally, the toughness of plastics contributes to their reliability, ensuring that packaging withstands demanding conditions.

The growth of the e-commerce industry has further propelled the demand for plastic packaging. Plastic packaging offers security and protection for shipped items, and its customizable designs make it ideal for various products. The high penetration of organized retail in the US has significantly contributed to the large share of plastic packaging demand in the country.

Plastic waste is a growing environmental issue

The problem is not just the amount of plastic being produced, but also the type of plastic and how it is disposed of. Plastic resins are used in a wide range of products, from food packaging to durable goods such as appliances and furniture. Single-use plastics are a major concern, with up to 50% of all plastic being used just once before being discarded. This includes items such as plastic bags, which have an average "working life" of just 15 minutes, and plastic water bottles, of which 57.3 billion were sold in the US in 2014.

The disposal of plastic waste is a significant contributor to the environmental issue. Plastic waste often ends up in landfills, where it can break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways and enter the food chain when ingested by animals. In 2019, 86% of plastic waste in the US went to landfill, with only 5% being recycled and 9% being combusted. This is not a localised issue, as plastic waste from the US and Europe leaks into the ocean, with estimates of this leakage ranging from 170,000 tons to 11 million tons annually.

To combat this growing problem, changes are being made by manufacturers to use less plastic in their products, and replace certain plastics with more sustainable alternatives. The US EPA has also created a National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, with key objectives including the reduction of pollution during production, improving post-use materials management, and preventing microplastics from entering the environment.

Plastic is cheap to make and profitable

The global use of plastics has soared in the past few decades since it became commercially produced and is now ubiquitous in daily life. This growth has seen plastic waste become one of the biggest environmental issues worldwide, polluting land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood. As one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, with plastic use in the US more than tripling since the 1980s, the North American country is a major contributor to the growing global plastic waste problem. In 2019, US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was roughly five times more than the global average per capita plastic waste generation.

The total amount of plastics combusted in municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018 was 5.6 million tons. This was 16.3% of all MSW combusted with energy recovery that year. In 2018, landfills received 27 million tons of plastic, which was 18.5% of all MSW landfilled. The containers and packaging category had the most plastic tonnage at over 14.5 million tons in 2018. This category includes bags, sacks, and wraps; other packaging; polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars; high-density polyethylene (HDPE) natural bottles; and other containers.

The proliferation of plastic products in the last several decades has been extraordinary. 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. It is estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. Plastic is incredibly versatile, with properties that make it ideal for many applications. However, these qualities have also resulted in it becoming an environmental issue. We have developed a ""disposable" lifestyle, and estimates are that around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away.

Plastic is versatile and durable

Plastic is an incredibly versatile and durable material, which has led to its proliferation in a wide range of products and applications. Its design potential, diversity, flexibility, low cost, and durability have made it a popular choice across almost all industrial sectors.

The use of plastic has grown exponentially in the last few decades, with more plastic produced in the last ten years than in the whole of the last century. The global production of plastic currently stands at approximately 380-430 million tons per year, with the United States being one of the world's largest consumers and producers of plastic waste. In 2019, the U.S. generated an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste, which equates to more than 220 kilograms per person. This is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

The versatility of plastic is evident in its use across various sectors. In the transportation sector, for example, plastic is used in the production of vehicles, with the amount of plastic in North American light vehicles increasing to 8.6% of the material weight in 2017. Plastic is also used in the production of appliances, furniture, casings of lead-acid batteries, and other durable goods.

Additionally, plastic is widely used in packaging and containers, including bags, sacks, wraps, bottles, and jars. The demand for plastic packaging is high, with packaging production constituting the highest-demanded use for plastic in 2017, at 146 million metric tons. Plastic food service items, such as disposable diapers, cups, utensils, and trash bags, are also common, with Americans throwing away around 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year.

The durability of plastic is a double-edged sword. While it provides long-lasting benefits for products like appliances and furniture, it also contributes to the growing environmental issue of plastic pollution. Plastic can take over 450 years to biodegrade in oceans, and with an estimated 8-11 million tons of plastic entering the oceans each year, the problem is becoming increasingly urgent.

To address the plastic pollution crisis, efforts are being made to reduce, replace, and recycle plastic. The U.S. EPA has created a National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, aiming to reduce pollution during production, improve post-use materials management, and prevent microplastics from entering the environment. Manufacturers are also taking steps to use less plastic in their products, and researchers are exploring more sustainable alternatives, such as PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), which can degrade into non-toxic components.

Plastic recycling is challenging

The recycling process itself is technically challenging and polluting. It involves sorting, grinding, washing, filtering, melting, and blending plastic with virgin plastic to create new products. This mechanical process is not only energy-intensive but also generates higher-toxicity plastic. Recycled plastic products contain dangerous chemicals, and studies have found elevated levels of toxic substances in recycled plastic toys, water bottles, and food containers. These chemicals can leach into food and beverages, posing risks to human health. Furthermore, the recycling process releases microplastics and PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) into waterways, contaminating groundwater, drinking water, and irrigation water.

Another challenge in plastic recycling is the vast array of synthetic chemicals and fossil fuel polymers used in plastic production. Different types of plastics contain unique combinations of chemicals, making it difficult to recycle them together. The lack of transparency about the chemicals used in plastic production further complicates the recycling process. Additionally, many plastic products are made with mixed materials, incorporating layers of metal and paper alongside multiple types of plastics. These mixed-material items, such as chip bags and candy wrappers, cannot be easily separated and recycled.

The economics of plastic recycling also present challenges. Recycling plastic is more costly than producing new plastic from virgin fossil fuels. This economic reality, combined with the limited market for recycled plastic, discourages large-scale recycling efforts. Despite public demand for plastic recycling and anti-litter campaigns, corporate giants have been accused of greenwashing and misleading the public about the effectiveness of plastic recycling. While recycling facilities may accept a wide range of plastics, a significant portion of these materials ends up in landfills or is incinerated.

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