SINGLE-USE PLASTICS A Roadmap for Sustainability

Fact-sheet for Policymakers

Photo credit: londonista_londonist/Flicker.com (rev. 1) Since the 1950s, the production of plastic has outpaced that of almost every other material.

The plastic World plastic production in context 2015: 400 million tonnes, 36% of which is plastic packaging. Much of the plastic we produce is designed to be thrown away after being used only once (single-use Total Plastic packaging waste in 2015 : or disposable). 141 million tonnes.

What happens to Problematic plastic waste? single-use plastics

Disposal of all plastic waste The most common single-use ever produced as of 2015 plastics found on beaches are in order of magnitude, cigarette butts, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic lids, straws and stirrers, and foam 12% take-away containers. 9% incinerated recycled

79% landfills, dumps or in the environment

Although there are some successful initiatives that aim to tackle other types of single-use plastics the recent drive for action by governments largely focuses on plastic bags and, to a certain extent, foamed plastic products. Why plastic bags and Styrofoam products?

Plastic bags and foamed plastic products seem to be perceived by governments as the most problematic single- Foamed use plastics, given their easily plastic is used observable presence (as an to produce food eyesore) in the environment, containers as it is such as windblown bags rigid, lightweight, and clinging onto fences or trees has good insulation or floating in rivers. properties

Some of the characteristics that make them commercially successful – price, durability 1-5 and resistance - also contribute to making trillion them environmentally plastics bags are unsound (when used worldwide mismanaged) and each year. difficult to recycle.

Impacts of mismanaged single-use plastics

Cost of inaction: If we don’t improve our consumption patterns and waste management practices, by 2050 there will be around 12 million metric tonnes of plastic litter in landfills and in the environment.

E

co E n

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n RRCause m v economic loss i

RRContaminates soil c

i r

and water in tourism, fishing and I o m shipping industries n RRChoke waterways and p

m R exacerbate natural disasters RHigh cost of transport to a

c

e R centralized plant of lightweight RBy 2050, an estimated t n 99% of seabirds will have foamed plastics due to difficulty s t a ingested plastic in recycling at local plants l I RRFuture costs of removal of m RRBlock sewage accumulated plastic litter p ac systems and provide in the environment ts breeding grounds for mosquitoes, raising the risk of malaria transmission RRRelease toxic chemicals and emissions if burned Welfare losses (visual pollution) RRFood chain H contamination e al th Im pacts Priority actions to minimize single-use plastics

1 Segregation of Effective collection Cost-effective Less landfilling waste at sources: of the segregated IMPROVE WASTE recycling of materials and dumping in plastics, organic, waste, transport (including plastics) the environment MANAGEMENT metals, paper, etc. and safe storage SYSTEMS

2 Introduce Economic Incentives Support projects to Stimulate creation of including tax rebates, research and upscale or recycle PROMOTE ECO-FRIENDLY micro-enterprises to development funds, technology single-use items drive job creation ALTERNATIVES TO incubation support, public-private transforming potential and economic growth PHASE OUT SINGLE-USE partnerships wastes into a resource PLASTICS

3 Public pressure EDUCATE School education Awareness campaigns to drive public and incorporated in curriculums CONSUMERS TO MAKE private sector decisions ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CHOICES

4 Reduction strategies can lead to fostering the understandings of people, without the forced sudden change. ENABLE Promotion and adoption of reusable bags, Voluntary agreements between as alternatives to plastic bags government and retailers/producers VOLUNTARY REDUCTION Existence of the raised social awareness and the public pressure would be a pre-condition for the effective STRATEGIES reduction strategies.

5 Example of policy tools BAN OR INTRODUCE LEVIES Regulatory instruments Ban ON THE USE AND SALE OF Economic instruments Levy on suppliers Levy on retailers Levy on consumers SINGLE-USE PLASTIC Combination of Regulatory Ban and levy Extended Producer Responsibility and Economic instruments ITEMS

National level plastic bag bans and Styrofoam regulations

Total or partial ban

Economic instruments

Combination

Private public agreement Estimated number of new regulations on single-use plastics entering into force at the national level worldwide

Number of regulations on plastic bags, Styrofoam No to little impact and other plastic utensils that entered into force 20% Reduced consumption Impact of national bans and or less pollution levies on plastic bags 30% (based on more than 60 countries experience) No data on impact 50%

atural What about biodegradable N 100% Biodegradable plastic items? l N a t u r a “Biodegradable” plastic items often do Many Better waste not degrade automatically governments management in the environment and outlawed systems to limit especially not in the ocean. conventional plastic leakage and damage to They require exposure to bags, allowing only the the environment is as prolonged high temperatures, use and production relevant for fossil-fuel above 50°C. Such conditions of “biodegradable” based plastics than are met in incineration bags. for biodegradable plants, but very rarely in plastics. the environment.

Case studies in the publication

EUROPE: ASIA: Ireland (levy on consumers) China (national and provincial bans and levies) Austria (voluntary public-private agreement) Bangladesh (how social pressure and disaster management can lead to banning) AFRICA: India (public action as driver of change) Rwanda (total plastic bag ban) AMERICAS: South Africa (combined ban and levy on retailers) New York City (Styrofoam ban) Kenya (punitive total ban) Costa Rica (total single-use plastic ban) Bans in the Caribbean Region (Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bay Islands Honduras) Roadmap for policymakers

The 10 steps to consider when introducing bans or levies on single-use plastics

• Identify the most problematic • Audits single-use plastics • Surveys • Assess current causes Know the • Studies and interviews Monitor and • Assess extent 1 baseline • Assess impacts adjust policy 10 Keep the public • Evaluate consumers’ updated on progress! willingness to pay

• Set roles and responsibilities • Ensure sufficient Evaluate • Regulatory • Voluntary human-power for enforcement possible Enforce 2 • Economic • Communicate the 9 actions • Combination enforcement process • Prosecute offenders in line with policy revisions

In order to support: Assess • Waste minimization impacts of • Social • The recycling industry Ringfence • Economic • Environmental projects and to preferred revenues 3 • Environmental finance awareness initiatives 8 option Communicate the chosen purpose!

• Government (central and local) • Allow enough time • Industry for the transition Engage • Retailers Incentivize • Offer tax rebates • Waste management authority 4 stakeholders • Keep certain eco-friendly industry 7 • Citizens materials tax-free • Tourism associations

• Education programmes • TV adverts Raise • Campaigns to explain: • Eco-friendly Promote >>Why is the policy being • Affordable 5 awareness introduced? • Fit for purpose alternatives 6 >>What are the expected benefits? >>Are there punitive measures?

Transitioning to more eco-friendly alternatives can be a lengthy process. In the meantime, strengthening circular thinking and waste management systems can successfully help in reducing plastics pollution

United Nations Environment Programme International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) (UNEP) Economy Division of UNEP P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya, 00100 2-110, Ryokuchi koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka, 538-0036, Tel: +254 20 7621234 Japan Web: www.unenvironment.org Tel: +81 6 6915 4581 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.unep.org/ietc