Emissions

Plastic production and pollution have a negative effect on the environment and climate change. Using detailed global and regional datasets coupled with socioeconomic data, machine learning was employed to predict that annual mismanaged plastic waste will nearly double by 2050. Annual GHG emissions from plastic are projected to grow by 37%. Four simulated treaty policies could reduce mismanaged plastic waste by 91% and GHG emissions by one-third.

This paper articulates the economic and financial basis for establishing a cap on global plastics production. The production cap, once adopted as part of the final legally binding agreement, is expected to serve as the linchpin to end plastics pollution.

This report models whether a virgin plastic production reduction target of 40% by 2040 (40×40) could keep the plastics industry within a 1.5°C carbon budget. It outlines the methodology used to predict how the global economy would respond to a 40×40 target, including modeling different scenarios based on business-as-usual (BAU) demand and reduced-demand scenarios. 

Just before INC5, this booklet gives an overview of negotiation priorities and challenges. The global treaty must not condemn our planet and communities to runaway climate change fuelled by unchecked petrochemical expansion, the collapse of ecosystems saturated with plastic pollution, and avoidable disease from exposure to microplastics and plastic chemicals.

Building on research published by SourceMaterial and Bloomberg with original research by Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), this report uncovers serious flaws in plastic offsets, credits and plastic neutrality.

The report exposes the climate footprint of the planned petrochemical buildout in America. It identifies the most climate-damaging projects and products, demonstrates carbon capture’s inability to significantly mitigate emissions, and uncovers how taxpayers are being misled into funding polluting projects sold as ‘climate solutions.’ 

This report highlights the critical role of public authorities in advancing reuse systems for takeaway packaging. It shows that switching from single-use to reuse could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower hidden costs like litter and carbon impacts.

The first edition of the European Reuse Barometer sets light on positive insights driving the reuse transition such as reuse industry growth and very engaged customers. However, the current fragmented and uncoordinated reuse ecosystem urgently needs to be streamlined and unified to achieve a true market transformation.