Policies for a plastic pollution-free future by 2040
Countries around the world are at a critical juncture in the battle against plastic pollution. The policies chosen today will have wide-ranging implications for the environment and human health. As countries near the final stages of negotiations to establish a global plastics treaty, our new report models various policy scenarios, honing in on different areas for action.
Don't miss the Green Talks LIVE taking place today at 14:00 CEST to interact with the authors.
Policy Scenarios for Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040
Find the latest insights on the potential benefits and consequences of varying levels of international policy ambition towards the elimination of plastic pollution. Our new report develops and contrasts alternative policy scenarios that simulate varying degrees of policy stringency, lifecycle scope and geographical coverage. Discover which interventions along the plastic lifecycle can help chart the path towards ending plastic pollution by 2040.
Global action across the plastics lifecycle can nearly eliminate plastic pollution by 2040
Comprehensive global policies addressing the entire plastics lifecycle can reduce plastic leakage into the environment by 96% by 2040. By implementing a mix of policies – from enhancing plastic waste management and recycling, to curbing plastic use and waste – countries can achieve significant environmental benefits and economic savings compared to less balanced strategies.
Plastic leakage projections by policy effect
Percent change compared to business-as-usual, from 2023
What are the key areas for action?
Slow plastic flows and foster eco-design
Global targets are needed to improve product design, phase out chemicals of concern and eliminate problematic plastics. Incentives, infrastructure investments and harmonised standards can likewise help scale up systems to keep plastics in use for longer before they are disposed of.
Improve waste management in all regions
To eliminate mismanaged waste, improvements are needed in waste collection, sorting and recycling systems. This includes additional investments in innovation to improve recycling yields and quality. Fast-growing countries with less advanced waste management systems will need to make the greatest changes. Such countries can consider integrating the informal sector in waste systems, leveraging Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and establishing waste collection targets.
Tackle microplastics, legacy pollution and plastic-related emissions
Plastic leakage is one important component of plastic pollution. Beyond this, targeted interventions are also required to mitigate risks associated with microplastic pollution (plastics <5mm in diameter), legacy plastic pollution and plastics-related greenhouse gas emissions. This can include investments to improve the design of tyres, vehicles, roads, paints and textiles to tackle microplastics; remediation interventions and clean-up campaigns to help resolve legacy pollution; and targeted climate mitigation policies to combat greenhouse gas emissions.
Ensure adequate means of implementation and financing
Developing countries will need additional support to offset investment costs required for waste prevention, collection and treatment. Extended Producer Responsibility schemes could help cover the costs of separated waste collection, sorting and recycling. In tandem, developed countries can scale up Official Development Assistance and leverage additional sources of private sector finance.
What policies could eliminate plastic pollution by 2040?
Join us to discuss the findings of the new OECD report Policy Scenarios for Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040.
Following an introduction by Jo Tyndall, Director of the OECD Environment Directorate, OECD Environment Senior Economist Rob Dellink and Junior Policy Analyst Elena Buzzi will present key findings from the report.
They will be joined by country representatives Robert Hearty and Stanislas Mouba to discuss the implications of these findings in the context of efforts to establish a global plastics treaty. The webinar will be moderated by Shardul Agrawala, Head of the Environment and Economy Integration Division at the OECD Environment Directorate.
The Green Talks LIVE replay will be made available after the webinar.
