Why in news?
A study commissioned by WWF and conducted by environmental group Earth Action estimated that banning problematic and avoidable plastics could generate trillions of dollars in savings between 2025 and 2040 while cutting pollution.
What are “problematic” plastics?
- Items that are either unnecessary, hard to recycle or harmful when mismanaged, such as expanded polystyrene takeaway containers, PVC packaging, styrofoam insulation, plastic cutlery, straws, cotton buds and certain multilayer films.
- They often contain toxic additives, contaminate recycling streams and end up as marine debris or microplastics.
Findings of the study
- Phasing out problematic plastics could reduce global plastic use by 173–224 million tonnes and mismanaged waste by up to 74 million tonnes by 2040.
- Economic analysis suggests potential savings of US$4.7–8 trillion in health, environmental and social costs, dwarfing the estimated US$2 trillion transition cost.
- Failing to act could saddle the world with up to US$10 trillion in pollution‑related costs.
- Private‑sector costs of shifting to alternatives are modest—about US$143 million globally—because substitutes such as paper, reusable materials and compostables are increasingly available.
Implications and recommendations
- Banning the most harmful plastics would accelerate progress towards a circular economy and support ongoing negotiations under the proposed global plastics treaty.
- Governments should prioritise regulatory bans, extended producer responsibility and investment in reuse and refill systems.
- Consumers can help by choosing reusable items and supporting brands that minimise single‑use packaging.
- In India, aligning national policies like the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2021 with global initiatives will be key.