05

Conclusions & recommendations


Plastic pollution is unprecedently problematic, and its instigators have evaded real accountability for too long. This report shows we need urgent and immediate legislative action to bring this crisis under control.

We have revealed how plastic producers and consumer brands have a slew of tactics to distract, delay and derail legislation, and presented case studies on how these tactics play out in different regions across the world. We have also uncovered what lies behind the smokescreen of voluntary commitments and nice-sounding initiatives to address the issue.

“The scourge of plastic pollution across the world is evidence enough to show the voluntary approach has failed.”

Although the industry has been under pressure to reduce single-use plastic, and to transition to a circular economy through reuse and effective recycling, these outcomes still represent less than 10% of what happens to plastic at the end of its life. The rest ends up as pollution in our natural environment, is burned in toxic incinerators or is left to slowly rot in ever-growing landfills.

The scourge of plastic pollution across the world is evidence enough to show the voluntary approach has failed. The tide of plastic pollution must be stemmed at its source – through effective legislation for absolute reduction in plastics, and through mandatory collection – so that those currently flooding the world with plastic are responsible for ensuring it no longer ends up in the environment.

    Also in this chapter

  • 1Recommendations for policymakers
  • 2Recommendations for companies
  • 3Recommendations for consumers
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