The UN Environment Assembly last week endorsed a historic resolution to end plastic pollution. Effectively, it’s a Paris agreement for plastics that would move toward a circular economy. This ambitious resolution reflects the urgency with which we must act to end plastic waste.
Plastic production and pollution have increased exponentially since the middle of the 20th century. Production hit 348 million tons in 2017 and is projected to double by 2040. Pollution, meanwhile, is projected to triple by 2040, dumping an estimated 23-37 million metric tons of plastic waste into our oceans each year. It’s simply not sustainable.
In endorsing the resolution to end plastic pollution, the UN Environment Assembly has committed to forging an international legally binding agreement by 2024. Crucially, the resolution also addresses the full lifecycle of plastic. Some 40 years after the introduction of the recycling symbol, just 14% of plastic is recycled, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Creating a circular economy for plastics is a vital step toward eliminating pollution as it should drastically reduce both litter and virgin plastic production. The smart use of technology, including virtual twins and simulation, will be essential to achieve the bold but necessary objective of eliminating plastic pollution.
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