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The cost of preventing ocean plastic pollution
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This economic study estimates that preventing land-based plastic leakage into the ocean across OECD and major Asian and African countries would require capital costs of 54 to 74 billion euros. The analysis shows that the cost of prevention is likely far lower than the long-term economic damage of ocean plastic pollution.
This paper provides estimates of the cost of preventing land-based plastic leakage into the ocean, covering 38 OECD member countries and 10 selected major plastic waste emitters in Asia and Africa. The study estimates capital costs at EUR 54 billion in the Moderate Ambition scenario and EUR 74 billion in the High Ambition scenario. The annualised per-capita costs range between EUR 0.2 to 6.5 in the Moderate Ambition scenario and from EUR 0.8 to 6.5 in the High Ambition scenario. These cost estimates are much lower than UNEP and ISWA estimates of the cost of inaction of inadequate waste management, roughly USD 9 to 45 per capita. Differences in estimated costs are found to depend on countries’ waste policy stringency and waste management infrastructure. This paper contributes to OECD work in support of a sustainable ocean economy and the Global Plastics Outlook report.
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Halting marine plastic inputs by 2050 is necessary but not sufficient to avoid microplastic accumulation
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Even if the world stops all new ocean plastic pollution by 2050, existing plastic already in the water will keep breaking down into microplastics, tiny particles that can end up in seafood and drinking water. Researchers found that faster ocean cleanup could reduce this microplastic buildup, costing an estimated 0.1 to 5.6 billion euros per year, a small fraction of global GDP.
Reducing plastic production: Economic loss or environmental gain?
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This economic analysis estimated that the cost of inaction on plastic pollution from 2016 to 2040 could reach up to $281.8 trillion, potentially exceeding the $158.4 trillion cost of achieving near-zero plastic pollution by 2040. While net benefit estimates remain uncertain, the low-end scenarios suggest inaction could generate a societal net cost roughly twice that of taking aggressive action.
How much innovation is needed to protect the ocean from plastic contamination?
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Researchers used a system dynamics model to simulate ocean plastic cleanup scenarios, finding that reducing ocean plastic debris 25% below 2010 levels by 2030 would require removing 135 million tons at a cost of up to €708 billion — far exceeding any single cleanup project — and that technological solutions alone cannot solve the problem without complementary policy interventions.
The Economics of Marine Litter
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This paper analyzed the economics of marine litter, estimating the costs imposed on fishing, tourism, and coastal communities and arguing that the economic case for prevention and cleanup is substantial.
Mapping of global plastic value chain and plastic losses to the environment: with a particular focus on marine environment
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This report maps the global plastic value chain from production through use to waste management, estimating that millions of tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year, with significant regional variation in management capacity. The analysis provides the economic and waste management context needed to understand why plastic pollution — and the resulting microplastic problem — continues to grow globally.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.