[New] The world's ocean plastic crisis could be dramatically reduced in just 15 years - and for less than $1bn (£750m).
Positive News
[New] The longer-term goal is to stop 90% of floating plastic pollution from reaching the sea by 2040, while also clearing existing accumulation zones such as the great Pacific garbage patch.
Positive News
[New] Between now and 2040, the world requires $15 trillion in private sector investment and $1.5 trillion in public expenditure in order to reduce annual mismanaged plastic volumes by 90% relative to 2019 levels, according to Circulate Initiative.
oilprice.com
[New] The good news is that across the healthcare system, applying circular economy levers can cut plastic use by up to 53%, GHG emissions by up to 55%, and system costs by up to 24% by 2040.
Sustainable Packaging Coalition
[New] In a Business as Usual scenario driven by inaction, plastic waste, GHG emissions and costs could grow by 35-40% by 2040.
Sustainable Packaging Coalition
[New] By 2050 there could be more plastic mass in the oceans than fish.
AZoCleantech
[New] Plastic Regulation: Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2026 require 30% recycled content in rigid packaging, increasing to 60% by 2028-29.
PMF IAS
[New] Scientists in Japan have developed a plastic that dissolves in saltwater, a technology that could curb microplastic pollution in the oceans.
Impakter
[New] Plastic production is set to triple by 2060 under a business-as-usual scenario, and less than 9% is recycled.
Great Lakes Now
[New] The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlights that ending plastic pollution will require upstream design change, reuse models, infrastructure investment, and downstream innovation to prevent leakage.
BioFuture Additives
Plastic pollution is recognised as one of the greatest threats to both the planet and human health.
North Devon Today
By 2050, we will put roughly 12,000 Mt of plastic waste in landfills or the environment.
The Revelator
ExxonMobil: ExxonMobil is investing $200 million to expand its chemical recycling capacity in Texas, aiming to process 500,000 tons of plastic waste annually by 2027 using its proprietary Exxtend technology.
GlobeNewswire
While the EPA is moving in the right direction, if the United States does not rein in the accelerating growth in plastic production, which leads to plastic pollution, it will make little difference.
Daily Bulletin
Without intervention, that number could rise to 280 million tons by 2040, an amount equivalent to dumping a garbage truck's worth of plastic every second.
Reasons to be Cheerful
