Who is bottling plastic waste pollution?

Nov 20, 2023

… on plastic waste in general

Plastic consumption and waste generation have skyrocketed in recent decades, posing a serious environmental threat.

Global plastic production has doubled since 2000, reaching 460 million tonnes in 2019.
Plastic waste generation has also more than doubled in the same period, reaching 353 million tonnes in 2019.
Nearly two-thirds of plastic waste comes from products with short lifespans, such as packaging and clothing.
Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled, while the rest is incinerated, landfilled, or leaks into the environment.
In 2019, an estimated 6.1 million tonnes of plastic waste entered aquatic environments, with 1.7 million tonnes ending up in oceans.
There is now an estimated 30 million tonnes of plastic waste in seas and oceans, and a further 109 million tonnes has accumulated in rivers.