New Report Unveils Strategies to Reduce Plastic Pollution

The current plastic flow is estimated at around 11 million metric tons.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Pew Charitable Trusts, in partnership with SYSTEMIQ, has published a first-of-its-kind model of the global plastics system. The expert report identifies pathways to greatly reduce plastic pollution entering the oceans.

The ‘Breaking the Plastic Wave’ analysis portrays a model, by which the flow of plastic into the ocean could be reduced by approximately 82%, only by using existing solutions and technologies. However, it requires immediate, ambitious and concerted actions by all stakeholders. Without such action, the yearly volume of plastic entering the ocean is likely to triple to up to 37 million metric tons by 2040. The current plastic flow is estimated at around 11 million metric tons.

Guillin Partners with Ocean Plastic Waste Recycling Alliance

The analysis suggests that the government and industry commitments are often narrow in focus and concentrated in low-leakage countries. According to the report, upstream solutions such as material redesign and substitution should be prioritized. But, equal importance should be given to downstream solutions such as recycling and disposal. Further, it cites that inadequate regulatory frameworks, business models and funding mechanisms tend to drag the widespread implementation of innovative technological solutions.

The solutions are at fingertips. However, timely implementation of these solutions is the key. Any delay would result in additional plastics going into the oceans.