Alexei Volkov
Plastic is everywhere, and it's cheap. But the true cost of plastic is far greater than its market price. Plastic is responsible for generating 1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, more than aviation and shipping combined. It endangers wildlife, damages marine ecosystems, and releases harmful microplastics into the environment, which are now being found in human blood. The social and environmental costs of plastic are estimated at $300–460 billion per year, but the lifetime cost of plastic produced in 2019 alone was $3.7 trillion. This plastic crisis is driven by virgin plastics derived from fossil fuels, which appear cheap due to large subsidies for the oil industry. However, there are hidden costs to plastic consumption, including waste management, pollution cleanup, and health and ecosystem recovery.
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What You'll Learn
The environmental cost of plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is expensive, with significant environmental, health, and economic costs. The environmental cost of plastic pollution is far-reaching. Plastic waste dominates the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, litters landscapes globally, and endangers wildlife through entanglement and ingestion. Plastic waste can persist in ecosystems for hundreds to thousands of years, and the small plastics (microplastics) resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics are now found everywhere, including in the ocean, on land, and in the air. In fact, the fields where our crops grow are 4 to 23 times more heavily polluted with microplastics than the oceans. These microplastics enter our bodies through food, water, and air, with unknown health consequences.
Plastics are also responsible for at least 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating the surge of climate-change-related negative impacts such as shrinking glaciers, flooding, and crop death from more intense droughts. Mismanaged plastic waste could further threaten the ability of the oceans to act as a carbon sink, as plastic emits carbon dioxide and limits the ocean's ability to remove it, exacerbating the impact of emissions. The production of virgin plastic, which makes up 90-95% of plastic production, is derived from fossil fuels and contributes to these emissions.
The true cost of plastic pollution is difficult to calculate, but it is clear that the environmental impact is catastrophic and far-reaching.
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The economic cost of plastic waste
Plastic waste has a significant economic cost. Plastic's low production and raw material costs have made it the world's most popular packaging material. However, the same properties that make plastic so practical and popular are the primary drivers of its devastating environmental, health, and economic consequences.
The environmental impact of plastic waste is far-reaching and catastrophic. Plastic waste accumulates in landfills and natural environments, including the oceans, where it endangers wildlife through ingestion and entanglement. Plastic pollution also has a detrimental effect on industries such as tourism and fishing. The cost of dealing with plastic waste includes the expenses of collecting, sorting, disposing of, and recycling it, which exceeds $32 billion annually, according to a WWF report. Furthermore, the clean-up efforts to remove plastic pollution from the marine environment can be costly for governments, groups, and individuals.
The production and use of plastic also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which have far-reaching consequences, such as shrinking glaciers, flooding, and crop failure due to droughts. Plastic is responsible for generating 1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, more than the emissions from aviation and shipping combined. These emissions impose substantial costs on governments and societies, as they accelerate the negative impacts of climate change.
In addition to the environmental costs, there are hidden costs associated with plastic waste that are often overlooked. These include the health costs stemming from exposure to hazardous chemicals and the presence of microplastics in the environment and human bodies, the consequences of which are yet to be fully understood. Marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by the health and economic risks associated with the plastic lifecycle, as they often host incineration plants and refineries. The total estimated cost of plastic produced in a year is staggering, with some sources citing $3.7 trillion, while others estimate it to be as high as AU$5 trillion.
To address the economic cost of plastic waste, a shift from a linear to a circular plastics economy is necessary. This includes scaling back fossil fuel subsidies to increase the production costs of virgin plastics, promoting recycled plastics and non-plastic alternatives, and implementing policies that incentivize the design and use of products that facilitate circularity rather than single-use disposal.
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The health cost of plastic emissions
Plastic is toxic at every stage of its life cycle and poses a significant risk to human health on a global scale. The health costs of plastic pollution are immense, with the US alone incurring approximately $250 billion in additional healthcare costs in 2018, equivalent to 1.22% of the nation's annual gross domestic product (GDP). The toxic chemicals that plastics are largely composed of are the primary cause of these high social costs.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), commonly used as flame retardants, are a major contributor to the health costs associated with plastic. PBDE exposure is linked to diseases such as cancer and accounts for a significant portion of the total costs. Other harmful chemicals found in plastics include bisphenols, phthalates, and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals have been linked to various health issues, including endocrine disruption, hormone disruption, and an increased risk of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurological impairments in developing fetuses and children.
Phthalates, for example, have been associated with preterm birth, reduced sperm count, and childhood obesity, while PFAS exposure is linked to kidney failure and gestational diabetes. The health costs of PFAS exposure alone amount to billions of dollars. Babies, children, and pregnant people are especially vulnerable to these toxic chemicals, which can be found in the air, soil, water, and food we consume.
The plastics and petrochemical industries also heavily pollute the environment during fossil fuel extraction, plastics production, transportation, and disposal. Poor, rural, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities have been disproportionately affected by this pollution, leading to significant social injustices and public health crises. The economic toll of plastic pollution includes not only direct medical costs but also broader societal impacts, such as reduced productivity due to health issues.
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The social cost of plastic production
Plastic pollution is expensive, with social and environmental costs estimated at USD 300–460 billion per year. These costs include health expenses 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 overall cost of plastic pollution are yet to be fully understood.
The social costs of plastic production are wide-ranging and significant. Firstly, plastic pollution has a detrimental impact on human health. The chemicals used in plastic production, such as additives, have well-established links to negative health outcomes. These chemicals can break down into micro- and nano-plastic particles, which pose severe risks to public health. The health costs associated with plastic pollution are expected to be substantial, but the true extent will only become apparent over time as more research is conducted.
Secondly, plastic pollution leads to decreased tourism revenues and increased clean-up expenses for local communities. People are less likely to visit areas with litter, particularly beaches. This not only results in a financial loss but also has social and recreational impacts, causing a range of physical and mental health costs for individuals and communities.
Thirdly, plastic pollution disrupts marine ecosystems, leading to a loss of ecosystem services. Researchers estimate a reduction of 1-5% in marine ecosystem services, which equates to a loss of about $500 billion to $2.5 trillion per year. This loss includes the decline in marine biodiversity, the disruption of food chains, and the impact on marine-dependent industries, such as fishing and tourism.
Finally, the social costs of plastic production extend beyond the environmental and health impacts. The linear nature of the plastics supply chain, with its focus on single-use products, contributes to the high social costs. Over two-thirds of the 430 million tons of plastic produced annually is for short-lived, single-use items, leading to a significant waste problem. The disposal of plastic waste is expensive and often inadequate, with plastic breaking down into microplastics that contaminate the environment and enter the food chain.
Addressing the social costs of plastic production requires a shift towards a circular economy, where plastic production is minimized, plastic consumption is reduced, and recycled plastics are prioritized. This transition will necessitate global partnerships and ambitious actions from countries to implement effective policies and support the development of sustainable alternatives.
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The hidden costs of plastic disposal
Plastic's low cost, durability, and versatility have made it the most popular packaging material worldwide. However, the same properties that make plastic so practical are causing catastrophic environmental, health, and economic impacts. The hidden costs of plastic disposal are far-reaching and include:
Environmental Impact
The durability of plastic means that plastic waste can persist in ecosystems for hundreds to thousands of years. Plastic dominates the ever-growing Great Pacific Garbage Patch, litters landscapes globally, and endangers wildlife through entanglement and ingestion. Marine plastic pollution can devastate economies through impacts on tourism, fishing, and other industries. The cost of ocean clean-up is also significant.
Health Impact
Plastic is responsible for at least 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with microplastics now being found in human blood. The health consequences of this are not yet fully understood, but the costs could be significant. The production and incineration of plastic also contribute to air pollution and the release of hazardous chemicals, which have associated health costs.
Economic Impact
The costs of collecting, sorting, disposing of, and recycling plastic waste exceed $32 billion annually. The low cost of producing new plastic compared to recycling makes it economically more attractive to produce new plastic. This encourages the continuous production of virgin plastics, which are derived from fossil fuels, and exacerbates the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. The disposal system is also expensive, with the plastic supply chain being mostly linear, and over two-thirds of plastic produced being for short-lived, single-use products.
Social Impact
Marginalised communities disproportionately bear the cost of the plastic lifecycle. Incineration plants and oil and gas refineries are often built 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.
Overall, the hidden costs of plastic disposal are immense, and urgent action is needed to reduce plastic production and pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
The costs of plastic are not limited to its market price. The hidden costs of plastic include the costs of waste management, cleaning up pollution, and protecting the environment.
Plastic pollution is expensive. The social and environmental costs 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 health costs of plastic are still being researched. Microplastics have been found in human blood, but the health consequences of this are unknown. Marginalized communities disproportionately bear the cost of the plastic lifecycle, as incineration plants and oil and gas refineries are built predominantly in low-income areas.
The economic costs of plastic include the cost of virgin plastic production, the cost of greenhouse gas emissions, and the cost of waste management. The lifetime cost of plastic produced globally in 2019 was estimated at around $5 trillion.
The production costs of sustainable alternative materials are about 1.5 to 2 times higher than plastic on average. However, alternatives to plastics are not without their drawbacks, as they need to be carefully handled to avoid increasing greenhouse gas emissions and contaminating waste streams.
