OECD report finds that only co-ordinated global efforts can eliminate plastic leakage

Report compares results of ambitious policies and "business as usual"

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Global plastic pollution will increase nearly three-fold and plastic leakage to the environment will double if policy makers do not strengthen measures for managing plastic waste, researchers working for the OECD predict. According to forecasts made for the organisation's report "Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060" which was published last week, plastic use will nearly triple from 2019 levels by 2060 to reach 1.231 billion tonnes per year and recycled plastics will account for only 12 per cent of the plastics market in 2060 if nothing is done.

The largest increases in plastic consumption are expected in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In the report's baseline scenario, the amount of mismanaged plastic waste would double to reached 153 million tonnes per year by 2060 despite improvements in waste management partially mitigating the increase.

Without "strong global action", the report says plastic leakage to the environment is projected to double to 44 million tonnes a year, exacerbating negative environmental and health impacts. Meanwhile, the amount of plastic waste in rivers and oceans is projected to more than triple, surging from 140 million tonnes in 2019 to 493 million tonnes in 2060....

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