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Decision: Reducing plastic production: Economic loss or environmental gain? — R2/PR12
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Researchers reviewed global economic and environmental studies on plastic pollution, estimating that the net cost of inaction on plastic pollution by 2040 ranges from US $-243.8 to $24.3 trillion compared to action costs, suggesting that while high-estimate scenarios favor action, low-estimate scenarios indicate inaction could generate societal net costs twice those of acting.
We reviewed economic and environmental studies on global plastic pollution and we estimate the global cost of actions toward zero plastic pollution in all countries by 2040 to be US −243.8 to 24.3 trillion in case of inaction. Net benefit ranges suggest action and inaction will both be beneficial when considering the high estimates. However, the low estimates show net benefits might be negative, which suggests inaction might generate a net cost for society that will be twice the cost of action. Our estimates are preliminary (several cost and benefit data are lacking).
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