The production of plastics increased by more than
twenty-fold between 1964 and 2015, with an annual
output of 322 million metric tons (Mt), and is expected to
double by 2035, and almost quadruple by 2050. Plastics
contribute to economic growth, but their current
production and use pattern, on a linear model of ‘take,
make, use, and dispose’, is a primary driver of natural
resource depletion, waste, environmental degradation,
climate change, and has adverse human health effects.
The circular economy is an alternative to the current
linear, make, use, dispose, economy model, which aims
to keep resources in use for as long as possible, to
extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, and
to recover and regenerate products and materials at the
end of their service life. It offers an opportunity to
minimise the negative impacts of plastics while
maximising the benefits from plastics and their products,
and providing environmental, economic, and societal
benefits. Circular economy solutions for plastics include:
producing plastics from alternative non-fossil fuel
feedstocks; using plastic wastes as a resource;
redesigning plastic manufacturing processes and
products to enhance longevity, reusability and waste
prevention; collaboration between businesses and
consumers to encourage recycling and increase the
value of plastic products; encouraging sustainable
business models which promote plastic products as
services, and encourage sharing and leasing;
developing robust information platforms to aid circular
solutions; and adopting fiscal and regulatory measures
to support the circular economy.
