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Policy Scenarios for Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040
Summary
This OECD report models the environmental and economic consequences of different international policy scenarios aimed at ending plastic pollution by 2040, finding that current policies are insufficient to alter plastic flow trends. More ambitious circular economy policies could dramatically reduce plastic leakage to the environment, though economic trade-offs vary by approach.
Plastics provide multiple benefits to society, but their lifecycle − from feedstock extraction and polymer production to use and disposal − contributes to pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. Current policies are inadequate to meaningfully alter trends in plastic flows and related pollution. This report provides insights into the potential environmental benefits and economic consequences of different levels of international policy ambition towards ending plastic pollution by 2040. Based on the quantification of the main drivers of plastics production and use, waste and pollution, the report provides projections of the plastics lifecycle, waste generation and treatment, as well as related leakage to the environment. The report presents and contrasts a range of policy scenarios with varying levels of ambition in terms of the stringency, lifecycle scope and geographical coverage of policies implemented. Its findings can inform a critical stage of international negotiations to develop a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.