The world’s plastic pollution problem is vastly outpacing efforts to stop it, meaning that the volume of plastics in oceans globally will be four times higher in 2040 than in 2016, new research backed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has concluded. Dubbed ‘Breaking the Plastic Wave’, the research was carried out by a consortium of experts from the University of Oxford, the University of Leeds, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, using tools from innovation catalyst firms Systemiq and Common Seas.
It found that, despite increasing numbers of pledges by corporates and governments aimed at stemming plastic pollution – and higher ambition levels of such pledges – they will ultimately fail to solve the problem. On a business-as-usual trajectory, based on current policy packages and corporate targets, the volume of plastic on the market will double within 20 years.
The research paper then goes on to set out an alternative trajectory, in which a “comprehensive” circular economy for plastics is created globally. Such systems would not only cap plastic pollution but save $200bn (£157bn) in reduced materials costs, healthcare costs and pollution cleanup costs; create 700,000 net additional jobs and reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of the plastics sector by a quarter, the report states. According to the report, a comprehensive circular economy for plastics is based around three pillars: elimination, circulation and innovation. While praising progress to date on the development of innovative collection and processing systems, the report argues that not enough R&D funding has been allocated to the design of new products and business models which ensure the elimination and circulation of packaging. The plastics and waste management industries should up R&D spending to $100bn per annum (£78.6bn) – quadruple the current level.
Source: Edie
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