2. Causes of the plastic pollution crisis

Understanding the root causes of the plastic pollution crisis is essential to developing effective solutions.

Part of the challenge in solving the crisis is that it is not caused by a single factor. Instead, it’s driven by a combination of issues spanning the entire plastic value chain. From production and consumption to disposal and waste management – issues at each stage contribute to the proliferation of plastic waste in the natural environment.

At one end, a primary driver of the crisis is the widespread, ongoing, and rising use of plastics - particularly single-use plastics. Global plastic production, despite increasing awareness of the issue, is expected to quadruple by 2050. Plastics are incredible materials - used in combination to be simultaneously flexible, air tight, and durable. Many aspects of modern society can be attributed to the positive solutions plastic has brought to humanity as a material.

But its strengths are part of the challenge. The fusion of different plastic polymers can make materials difficult to recycle, and plastics’ durability - some estimates suggesting it can take up to 1,000 years for some plastics to decompose - mean that the plastic waste we generate today will remain as a pollutant for many generations to come.

On top of this, much plastic packaging today is still designed for just one use, and without consideration for reuse or recycling. Plastic bags, beverage bottles and other product packaging account for a significant portion of plastic waste worldwide. Inadequate waste management infrastructure also plays a significant role in the plastic pollution crisis. Nearly all countries lack the resources and capacity to properly collect, sort, and recycle or appropriately dispose of plastic waste - even at the current rate of use.

These broken systems lead to widespread littering and pollution as well as issues with waste being exported and imported rather than dealt with at the source. Plastics were designed and scaled before there were any systems in place to properly manage their end of life responsibly.

In developing countries the problem can appear more stark. In some countries as much as 90% of plastic waste is ‘mismanaged’ which means it’s uncollected or inadequately disposed of. Lack of collection infrastructure, in particular, means that household waste - including plastics - is often burned or dumped into the environment. This, along with the forces of wind and rain, leads to accumulation in oceans and natural habitats, posing a significant threat to marine life and other ecosystems.

These multifaceted factors underscore the need for systemic change and collaborative efforts to address the root causes of plastic pollution… but more on that later.