The importance of plastics within modern society should not be diminished, however, the potential for increasingly detrimental impacts on the natural environment cannot be denied. Bolstered by the growing unsustainable nature of the plastics value chain, which directly contributes to the generation of negative outcomes such as GHG emissions and growing waste and pollution.
‘There is more single-use plastic waste than ever before – an additional 6 million metric tons (equivalent to almost 1 kg per person on the planet) generated in 2021 compared to 2019 – still almost entirely made from fossil fuels.’ – Minderoo Foundation Plastic Waste Makers Index 2023
The negative impacts of plastic pollution have been widely acknowledged for years. Yet it is only more recently that growing awareness and knowledge surrounding the negative impacts associated with plastic pollution on global challenges such as the changing climate, air pollution, and human health have increased.
As industry moves forward it will become increasingly important to act towards the reduction of such impacts whilst retaining the utility of plastics. And to do so, it will be vital to shift towards a more circular and sustainable plastics system.
What are the key strategies which should be adopted to increase the circularity and sustainability of plastics?
When considering solutions for the circularity and sustainability of plastics it is important to acknowledge there is no silver bullet solution, and context consideration is vital.
How can we embed smarter use of plastics?
How can we increase the circularity of plastics?
Is adopting renewable materials for plastics the answer?
How can the scale up and adoption of the previous strategies be instigated?
Sources:
- https://www.eionet.europa.eu/etcs/etc-ce/products/etc-ce-products/etc-ce-report-2023-1-pathways-to-circular-plastics-in-europe-good-examples-from-countries-business-and-citizens
- EC, 2022, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — EU policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics (COM(2022) 682).
- EEA, 2020, Plastics, the circular economy and Europe′s environment — a priority for action, EEA Report No 18/2020, European Environment Agency (https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/plastics-the-circular-economy-and)
- EEA, 2021, ‘A framework for enabling circular business models in Europe’ (https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/a-framework-for-enabling-circular#:~:text=Circular%20business%20models%20can%20enable%20the%20meeting%20of,all%20phases%20of%20the%20life%20cycle%20%28EEA%2C%202019a%29.)
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2023, ‘Plastics: designing out plastic pollution’, Ellen MacArthur Foundation (https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/plastics/overview)
- EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/packaging-waste_en
- EU Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/plastics/single-use-plastics_en
- https://www.minderoo.org/plastic-waste-makers-index/news/single-use-plastic-production-still-on-the-rise-as-it-threatens-to-push-society-further-from-net-zero-climate-goals/#:~:text=Minderoo%20Foundation’s%20groundbreaking%20Plastic%20Waste,contribute%20to%20the%20climate%20crisis.
- European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment, Biobased plastic : sustainable sourcing and content : final report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2779/668096
© 2023 Circular&CO. Property of ashortwalk LTD. Website by Channel Digital