Plastic Economy

Plastic pollution is a relatively new but exponentially growing concept. Annual global plastic production has increased dramatically over the past decade; It increased from approximately 1.5 million metric tons (MT) in 1950 to 390.7 million metric tons in 2021. Plastic production is expected to increase further in the coming years, as current investments in petrochemical infrastructure support this trend. If business continues as usual, global primary plastic production could reach 1,100 million tonnes by 2050.

Plastic pollution is one of the global problems that clearly shows that the triple planetary crisis we face (pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change) are different sides of the same coin. The impacts on the life cycle of plastic are cross-sectoral and affect people and the environment in many ways. This is also a demonstration of the interconnectedness of the Sustainable Development Goals, as addressing the plastic crisis can deliver environmental, social, and economic benefits. The 2023 report of the United Nations Environment Programme, proposes a system change that will reduce problematic and unnecessary plastic use, redesign the system, products, and their packaging, and address the causes of plastic pollution. The explanation of these three basic system changes is as follows;

A significant reduction in plastic use could be achieved by redesigning the way products deliver their functions to society, for example by using dry products instead of liquefied ones, so there is no need to transport water (and the products can then be packaged in simpler materials).

Reuse refers to the evolution of the 'disposable economy' into a 'Reuse Society', where reusing and refilling products is more economical than throwing them away.

Reorientation and diversification mean shifting the market towards sustainable alternatives; This will require a change in the way products and packaging are produced, consumer demand, regulatory frameworks, and costs.
 
Reducing the use of plastics is of great importance in solving climate change, the most challenging problem in history. The aim of the New Plastics Economy in this context is to deliver better economic and environmental properties system-wide. It provides an effective economic structure and a sustainable life for future generations by greatly reducing the leakage of plastics into natural systems (especially the oceans) and other negative externalities.