Unrecycled plastic due to overproduction: an alarming 9%, amounting to 475 million tonnes worldwide
In a world where plastic has become an integral part of our daily lives, it's alarming to note that the production and waste of this material are escalating at an unprecedented rate. According to recent data, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic is dumped every minute, amounting to 15 tonnes per minute [1].
This rampant spread of plastic is a global concern, affecting land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Projections suggest that plastic production could exceed 1 billion tonnes by 2060 if no action is taken [1]. Current global trends show plastic production and waste are rapidly increasing, with significant environmental and health implications, particularly in oceans [1].
Despite restrictions on single-use plastics in over 140 countries, production and consumption continue to rise, driven especially by packaging, automotive, electronics, consumer goods, and construction sectors [1]. As a result, plastic waste pollution is widespread, affecting these environments and entering the food chain. An estimated 20 million tons of plastic leak into the environment annually, much of it ending up as microplastics [1].
Exposure to plastics at every stage of their life cycle can promote serious illnesses, including cancers and diabetes [1]. The healthcare costs associated with plastic pollution are estimated to be 1,300 billion euros annually [1]. However, exact annual global figures specifically attributable to plastic-related diseases are not explicitly available.
The growing plastic waste management market, addressing environmental and health risks, is expected to exceed USD 64.6 billion by 2034 [5]. This suggests that healthcare costs related to plastic pollution, though not separately quantified here, are likely significant and growing as awareness of plastic-related health risks increases.
Efforts like the upcoming INC-5.2 global treaty seek to legally bind countries to reduce plastic pollution across its entire lifecycle—from design to disposal—to mitigate these environmental and health risks [1]. The health consequences of plastic pollution are a significant concern, and it's crucial that we take action to address this global crisis.
References:
- The Lancet, Ministry of Ecological Transition, and OECD reports
- [Source 2]
- [Source 3]
- [Source 4]
- [Source 5]
- The health and wellness sector is increasingly concerned about the adverse effects of plastic pollution, as it can lead to serious medical conditions such as cancers and diabetes.
- In the realm of environmental science, climate change and plastic waste are interconnected issues, with the latter significantly impacting marine ecosystems and contaminating the food chain.
- The escalating production and waste of plastic are not only environmental concerns but also have a significant impact on the future of science, particularly in the fields of medical conditions, health-and-wellness, and climate change research.
