A new study published in the prestigious journal Science reveals that implementing just four key policies could mitigate the consequences of unsustainable plastic waste management by up to 91 percent, while greenhouse gas emissions linked to plastics could be reduced by a third.
The key measures include mandating that new products contain at least 40 percent recycled plastic from post-consumer waste, capping the production of new plastic at 2020 levels, significant investments in plastic waste management infrastructure, and introducing a symbolic fee on plastic packaging to encourage reduced use and a transition to more sustainable alternatives.
The study, titled Pathways to Reducing Mismanaged Plastic Waste and Greenhouse Gas Emissions to 2050, conducted by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Santa Barbara, was published ahead of critical negotiations in South Korea. These negotiations, taking place from November 25 to December 1 in Busan, will bring together delegates from over 190 countries aiming to finalize the details of the first legally binding agreement on plastic pollution.
More:
- Marked Increase in EU Exports of Recyclables in 2023
- Stricter EU Regulations for Wastewater Treatment
- International E-Waste Day
“This is a pivotal moment. The upcoming negotiations in Busan represent our unique opportunity as a planet to unite and tackle plastic pollution. One of the most exciting findings of this study is that we can nearly eliminate plastic pollution with this agreement. I’m cautiously optimistic, but we cannot afford to squander this once-in-a-lifetime chance,” emphasized Dr. Douglas McCauley, one of the study’s authors.
If the world continues with “business as usual,” between 2011 and 2050, it will generate enough plastic waste to cover Manhattan ten times over with piles of plastic exceeding the height of the Empire State Building.
Under this scenario, greenhouse gas emissions linked to plastics would increase by 37 percent by 2050 compared to 2020 levels. This is equivalent to the emissions from nearly 9,000 natural gas power plants operating at full capacity year-round or the amount of energy required to power over 436 million households for one year.
