Production

The UK’s plastic waste export system is fundamentally failing and, without immediate political intervention, the environmental, social and economic consequences will only deepen.

Petrochemicals — fossil fuel-derived substances used in plastics, fertilizers, and synthetic materials — are a major, yet overlooked driver of Europe’s environmental, health, and climate crises. The report reveals how petrochemicals undermine EU commitments across sectors and highlights how powerful industry lobbies are pushing for deregulation and subsidies under the guise of “clean tech,” while expanding infrastructures.

The Fact Sheet unpacks why petrochemicals can no longer be relied on as a growth engine. Despite mounting evidence of structural overcapacity, erratic demand, and falling margins, capacity additions continue across regions, especially in Asia-Pacific.

This report exposes how some of the world’s largest petrochemicalcompanies are expanding production while flooding the treaty negotiationswith hundreds of lobbyists in an effort to weaken ambition and shiftattention onto false solutions like chemical recycling.

Every Breath You Take: Air Pollution Risks from Petrochemical Production for the Plastics Supply Chain

Despite being one of the most pervasive materials on the planet, plastic and its impact on human health remain poorly understood. Yet exposure to plastic is expanding into new areas of the environment and food chain as existing plastic products fragment into smaller particles and concentrate toxic chemicals. As plastic production increases, this exposure will only grow.

In 2022, The Big Plastic Count was the biggest investigation into UK household plastic waste. It showed that almost 100 billion pieces of plastic are thrown away in the UK each year, with hardly any of it recycled. With your help, we’ll gather more, game-changing evidence that will push the government to take bold action on plastic.

This report critically examines the European Commission’s JRC study on plastic recycling technologies, exposing major methodological flaws that favour chemical recycling. It challenges the credibility of industry-backed data and highlights the true environmental costs of solvent- and pyrolysis-based methods. It also provides clear recommendations for policymakers.