Plastic pollution could be slashed 80 percent by 2040 – UNEP

MANILA, Philippines — Plastic pollution could be slashed by 80 percent by 2040 if countries and companies use existing technologies to make significant policy shifts and market adjustments, according to a new United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report.

The report titled “Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy” was released ahead of the second round of negotiations in Paris on a global agreement to beat plastic pollution.

The report also outlines the magnitude and nature of the changes required to end plastic pollution and create a sustainable circular economy that is friendly to humans and the environment.

It is a solutions-focused analysis of concrete practices, market shifts and policies that can inform government thinking and business action.

To slash plastic pollution by 80 percent globally by 2040, the report suggested first eliminating problematic and unnecessary plastics to reduce the size of the problem.

The report proposes a system change achieved by accelerating three key shifts – reuse, recycle, and reorient and diversify – and actions to deal with the legacy of plastic pollution.

Even with the measures above, 100 million metric tons of plastics from single-use and short-lived products will still need to be safely dealt with annually by 2040 – together with a significant legacy of existing plastic pollution, according to the report. This can be addressed by setting and implementing design and safety standards for disposing of non-recyclable plastic waste, and by making manufacturers responsible for products shedding microplastics, among others.

Overall, the report indicated that the shift to a circular economy would result in $1.27 trillion in savings, considering costs and recycling revenues.

A further $3.25 trillion will be saved from avoided externalities such as health, climate, air pollution, marine ecosystem degradation and litigation-related costs.

The UNEP said this shift could also result in a net increase of 700,000 jobs by 2040, mostly in low-income countries, significantly improving the livelihoods of millions of workers in informal settings.

Ban plastic drinking straws

Meanwhile, Sen. Cynthia Villar is pushing for a measure that will impose a ban on using plastic drinking straws in all food and hospitality establishments, restaurants, hotels, inns, fast food centers and eateries, which she said is causing significant harm to diverse species and human health.

Villar has filed Senate Bill 2209, an act mandating all restaurants, hotels, inns, fast food centers, eateries, and similar establishments to prohibit the use of plastic drinking straws and providing penalties for violation.

“Plastic pollution, particularly from single-use items like plastic drinking straws, poses a considerable challenge to our constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology,” she said.

The chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources noted that “readily available options such as metal, paper or bamboo straws offer sustainable alternatives to plastic straws.”

“Having other choices besides plastic straws makes it both possible and urgent for us to make a change. This switch to greener options is an important move that we can make now to ensure a sustainable future,” she said. — Cecille Suerte Felipe