EIA: “Plastic production emissions could be halved in 25 years”

The group explained that while the use of fossil fuels is the primary cause of the climate crisis, plastic polymers are manufactured using by-products of the gas, coal and oil industries. These polymers, the basic ingredient from which all plastics are made, are also a “major contributor” to global warming and plastic pollution. 

According to the new EIA report entitled: ‘Addressing the Issue Head-On – Measures on polymer production in the Global Plastics Treaty’, polymer production should take precedence in the upcoming Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.  

The report states that by halting overall polymer production and targeting the most harmful types while imposing limits on high-volume plastics, the global population could potentially reduce annual plastic production by 64%. 

The report highlights compelling benefits of such measures: a substantial decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by 25-47 billion tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalence from 2025 to 2050, along with a significant reduction of plastic waste mismanagement by 7.1 billion tonnes over the same period.  

Conversely, the report shows that if polymer production continues unchecked, an additional 17.7 billion tonnes of plastic could flood the environment in the next 25 years, exacerbating the crisis. 

The EIA has urged the Global Plastic delegates to support a shift towards a genuine circular economy model. This approach emphasising reusing, repairing and recycling existing materials to curb consumption and production, crucial steps toward limiting long-term temperature rise to 1.5°C and mitigating the most severe impacts of climate change. 

Production 

EIA oceans campaigner, Jacob Kean-Hammerson, said: “Our hypothetical modelling exercise using newly reported data clearly demonstrates that addressing plastic production needs to be part of the solution to the plastic pollution and climate crisis.” 

He added: “It’s a sure-fire way to move towards a safer, more circular economy for plastics, reduce waste generation and crucially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”