Ahead of a second round of negotiations in Paris, next week on a global agreement to beat plastic pollution, a new report has revealed that plastic pollution could reduce by 80 per cent by 2040 if countries and companies make deep policy, as well as market shifts using existing technologies.

The report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) outlines the magnitude and nature of the changes required to end plastic pollution and n metric tons of plastic pollution by 2040.

The report noted that the highest costs in  both a throwaway and circular economy are operational. With regulation to ensure plastics are designed to be circular, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes can cover these operational costs of ensuring the system’s circularity through requiring producers to finance the collection, recycling and responsible end-of-life disposal of plastic products.

The report recommends that a global fiscal framework could be part of international policies to enable recycled materials to compete on a level playing field with virgin materials, create an economy of scale for solutions, and establish monitoring systems and financing mechanisms.

Crucially, policymakers are encouraged to embrace an approach that integrates regulatory instruments and policies tackling actions across the life cycle, as these are mutually reinforcing towards the goal of transforming the economy. 

The report also addresses specific policies, including standards for design, safety, and compostable and biodegradable plastics; targets for minimum recycling and labeling.

The way we produce, use and dispose of plastics is polluting ecosystems, creating risks for human health and destabilizing the climate, said the UNEP Executive Director. This UNEP report lays out a roadmap to dramatically reduce these risks through adopting a circular approach that keeps plastics out of ecosystems, out of our bodies and in the economy. If we follow this roadmap, including in negotiations on the plastic pollution deal, we can deliver major economic, social and environmental wins.