The Pew Charitable Trusts have conducted a comprehensive analysis of plastic pollution in Earth’s waters, land and air, updating and expanding the earlier Breaking the Plastic Wave (BPW1) report.

The assessment is that plastic pollution will more than double over 15 years. As of 2025, 130Mt of plastic currently pollutes the environment each year. Without ambitious global action, that figure will rise to 280 Mt by 2040. This increase will be primarily driven by rapidly growing production and use of plastic, particularly in packaging and textiles, that will further overwhelm already inadequate waste management systems.

By 2040, annual costs to collect and dispose of plastic would increase by 30 per cent to $140bn, requiring additional public funds and posing a financial risk to businesses. Despite this increased spending, the share of plastic waste that is uncollected will nearly double by 2040 from 19 per cent to 34 per cent.

Health impacts from plastic production, waste and pollution, before accounting for use, will increase by 75 per cent over the next 15 years, primarily because of new polymer production and open burning, with the most vulnerable communities bearing the brunt. The estimated annual costs of health effects from plastic chemicals alone to be as high as $1.5tr globally.

Unless the plastic system is transformed, by 2040, annual greenhouse gas emissions from the global plastic system will increase by 58 per cent to 4.2Gt of carbon dioxide equivalents (GtCO2e).

Not surprisingly, the conclusions are that reduction would be a good idea! The report proposes a transformation is possible if policymakers, businesses and other decision makers around the world act quickly, not only to reduce the threats posed by plastic pollution but also to seize the opportunities that sustainable solutions present.

Link to report.

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