The question at hand explores whether the production of plastic is poised for continuous growth.
In a recent global meeting, over 100 nations expressed their support for capping plastic production, aiming to curb the mounting environmental crisis. However, a few nations, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China, blocked this measure, casting a shadow over the future of plastic reduction efforts.
China, the world's biggest plastics manufacturer, accounts for around a third of global production. The fastest growth in plastic production is occurring mainly in Asia, particularly in India and Southeast Asia, due to rising industrial demand and economic growth. This increased production could account for around a quarter of the remaining carbon budget scientists say the world can afford to use to prevent runaway heating.
Much plastic is produced for single-use items, leading to direct plastic pollution and long-term environmental impacts. The global capacity to manage and recycle plastic is outpaced by the amount produced annually. Only 9% of plastics are recycled, with the vast majority ending up in landfills, being incinerated, or leaking into the environment as microplastics.
Microplastics have been found in remote parts of the earth, in the air we breathe, and even in our bodies. This alarming discovery underscores the urgent need for action. Experts suggest that lowering demand for plastic is also important in reducing plastic production.
Simon, an environmental advocate, proposes a treaty between non-producers, especially those countries in Africa or Asia that are bearing the brunt of plastic pollution. Their decision to restrict plastic use could limit production due to reduced demand. Giulia Carlini, senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, agrees, stating that reaching a consensus on reduction is the primary hurdle.
Not only NGOs but also some businesses are calling for a reduction in plastic production. Miserocchi, a representative from an NGO, points to a global commitment to reduce plastic use facilitated by the foundation of over 1,000 organizations. These organisations claim to have cumulatively avoided 9.6 million tons of virgin plastics production since 2018.
However, fossil fuel and chemical lobbyists comprised the largest delegation in the global plastic talks, larger than those of the entire EU and its member states. Corporate lobbyists are registered as part of national delegations in some cases, according to Carlini.
The global plastic talks in Korea last December ended inconclusively, and reduction will likely be a key point of contention in the resumed negotiations in Geneva. Reduction in plastic production needs to be paired with shifts in business models and product design to avoid merely replacing plastic with huge increases in other material streams, according to Miserocchi.
In the face of these challenges, the fight against plastic pollution continues. The need for a global consensus on plastic reduction is more urgent than ever, as the environmental consequences of unchecked plastic production loom large.
