Plastic products generate millions of tons of garbage worldwide, of which only 10% is recycled. But, in addition, they contribute to intensifying the climate crisis, since they are manufactured from oil and generate 19% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Dealing with a crisis of this scale requires governments, the private sector and concerned organizations to work together to scale up and implement effective measures. For this reason, the United Nations dedicates this year World Environment Day -whose organizing country is Côte d’Ivoire- to promote environmental measures to reduce plastic pollution.
Reversing this situation is possible if scientific advances and existing solutions are used to gradually eliminate plastics from our lives.
According to estimates by the UN, moving towards the circular economy could reduce the volume of plastics that reach the oceans by more than 80% by 2040; reduce the production of virgin plastic by 55%; save governments close to 65,000 million euros; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% and create around 700,000 jobs, mainly in the southern hemisphere.
To achieve these objectives, consumption reduction, reuse, recycling and diversification are encouraged, with the adoption of sustainable alternatives, such as bioplastics. In 2022, a historic resolution was approved in this direction: 175 countries committed themselves in Nairobi to develop a legally binding international agreement by 2024, which will address the entire life cycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal. It is the most important document on the environment since the Paris Agreement.
An essential step is to put an end to single-use plastics, since they represent half of the 400 million tons of this material produced each year in the world.
Since 2020, a European directive prohibits certain single-use plastic products and requires recycling 50% of their waste, a figure that in 2035 should rise to 65%.
In Spain, the 2022 Law on Waste and Contaminated Soils adapted this regulation.
Thus, cotton swabs containing plastic, single-use cutlery and plates, straws or drink containers made of expanded polystyrene cannot be marketed. In addition, it prohibits microplastics in cosmetics or cleaning products.
