The circular economy with reference to plastic pollution

Environmental Sustainability in Light of a Closed-Loop Economic System

Plastic pollution has gained global attention in the past two years, and this has caused widespread alarm. It has already been proven that what was formerly considered an insignificant local problem is now one of our biggest issues, even by some environmentalists.

When it comes to the current "linear" economy and its need to be replaced by a "circular" one, it is increasingly seen as one of the most prominent symbols of the need for systemic rather than piecemeal change.

As many as 332 billion single-use plastic bags are made annually and are only utilized for a short time. Nearly half of all plastics ever made have been dumped in landfills or the environment, and that number is anticipated to rise to 12,000 million tons by 2050 if no action is taken. Plastics have already been dumped in landfills or the environment in quantities totaling 4,900 million tons. Some types of decomposition might take up to 500 years.

The sea gets enough plastic waste daily to fill a trash truck. By 2050, that number is predicted to exceed four containers each minute. By then, there's a good chance that the oceans will contain more plastic than actual fish. Indeed, it may be found in the Arctic Sea ice and the deepest ocean trench in the world. That's a problem that must be fixed.

Plastic Bans Begin

The idea of a plastic ban is something the United Nations endorsed in September 2017, when delegates from around the world attended a summit on how best to confront the issue of human-caused ocean plastic pollution. There, representatives from more than 100 countries approved a comprehensive and binding agreement to curb plastic pollution in marine environments.

Heads of state, ministers of environment and other representatives from UN member states endorsed this landmark agreement that addresses the full life cycle of plastic from source to sea.

In March 2022, a historic resolution was passed at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024.

Circular economics tries to maximize the value of resources by using them for the longest possible time and extracting as much value from them as possible before recycling and reusing them. It strives to eliminate waste and toxic materials in favor of such repair and regeneration.

Implementing a Circular Economy

Global implementation of a circular economy may save up to $1 trillion in material costs each year by 2025, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). An organization called the World Commercial Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has projected that it might open up business possibilities worth $4.5 trillion.

As part of the circular economy, plastics would be produced from plants rather than fossil fuels, goods would be redesigned to reduce waste and increase their usefulness, recycling and reuse would be promoted, and waste plastics would be used as resources. It is also necessary to reduce the demand for plastic items and discourage nonessential ones in order to implement such steps.

Making Progress

In the last few years, we've made much progress in this area. Plastic garbage was added to the Basel convention, a legally binding convention that governs the transfer of hazardous waste, in May 2019. Transparency and regulation will be improved as the handling of plastic garbage is made safer for both human health and the environment.

The total amount of plastic waste in the ocean rose by 10% in 2018 and will continue to rise if no action is taken. We have to increase our efficiency and reduce plastic use, including those single-use items designed for short-term use.

Plastics' toxicity has been known for a long time, but the pollution brought about by plastic waste is only now starting to get attention. People began to realize the danger when they saw how industrial waste could devastate ecosystems. Some scientists have now determined that marine life such as mussels, fish, crabs, shrimp, and sea turtles could be dead from ingesting plastics from the sea floor.

At least 700 marine species have been affected by plastic waste, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Of these, more than 120 have suffered a population reduction because their habitat has been polluted by waste. More than 80% of all marine litter derives from land-based sources, so helping to deal with them is another important step in the battle against plastic pollution.

An Opportunity for Sweeping Changes

Environmentalists are looking to the current political situation as a perfect opportunity to implement change on an unprecedented scale. The last several months have seen bans on single-use plastics enacted in countries around the globe: Wales, Scotland, Kenya, and New Zealand are a few examples.

The European Union passed a law in October 2018 that set the world's most stringent laws on plastic use. The ban includes single-use items such as plastic plates, cups, and utensils made from non-recycled plastics; straws, cotton swabs, other products that can't be recycled easily; and squishy toys.

Several companies have been exploring ways to cut down on their use of plastic packaging. Starbucks, for example, uses only recyclable and compostable materials in the K-cups it provides to its customers. The company also says it has reduced plastic waste by more than 10% since 2015. McDonald's is among the other companies that hope to find ways to reduce their use of plastic packaging.

Sustainable Food Lab research has determined that as much as one billion pounds of plastics are added to industrial products each year, and though a majority of them can be recycled, only 8% are actually being recycled. It is believed that the recycled plastics are not used in new products and end up sitting in landfills or, worse yet, ending up in oceans because they cannot be efficiently reprocessed.

The April 2018 directive is an official adoption of the measures recommended by Friends of the Earth Europe in their analysis report in 2017. The report found that, by 2020, only 1% of plastic packaging will be reusable or recyclable. The directive also stipulates that companies face fines if they still use plastic packaging after five years.

Restoring the Marine Environment

The European Commission has been working on plans to tackle marine litter for more than a decade, and water pollution is one of the major issues on its agenda.

Tackling marine litter is an urgent need for sustainable development. The EU is the world's largest producer of plastic packaging and sends much of this material to other EU countries, particularly Scandinavia. Efforts are underway to reduce marine litter at the source by introducing more effective packaging and better collection systems.

Conclusion

To conclude, it is essential that everyone comes together and protects the planet against pollution. We must change our lifestyle and our attitude toward the environment. If we all come together, we can find a way to a better future for our children.

References:

https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/news/circular-economy-tackling-plastic-pollution
https://archive.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/explore/plastics-and-the-circular-economy
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/what-you-need-know-about-plastic-pollution-resolution
https://www.thegef.org/sites/default/files/publications/PLASTICS for posting.pdf
https://unctad.org/system/files/non-official-document/ditc-ted-09092019-UNtradeforum-DFID.pdf
https://blogs.adb.org/blog/plastic-waste-and-circular-economy
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45965605