Cutting Plastic Pollution: A Roadmap by the UN

Cutting Plastic Pollution: A Roadmap by the UN

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Plastic pollution is a global challenge that affects the planet, causing environmental damage and health risks.

The UNEP has released a roadmap for governments and businesses to reduce plastic pollution by 80% by 2040.

The UNEP report, highlighting the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution, suggests three key strategies: reuse, recycling, and alternative materials.

Reusing plastics would have the greatest impact on reducing plastic pollution, according to the report.

The report recommends promoting options such as refillable bottles, deposit programs, and packaging take-back programs.

These measures, if implemented, could reduce plastic pollution by 30% by 2040, according to the report.

Scaling up recycling levels could reduce plastic pollution by a further 20%, but only around 9% of plastics are recycled globally each year, with the rest ending up in landfills or incinerated.

The report recommends discontinuing fossil fuel subsidies that make new plastic products cheaper, which disincentivizes recycling and the use of alternative materials.

Using appropriate alternative materials for single-use products,such as wrappers and sachets, could reduce plastic pollution by 17%.

One of the recommendations is to switch to compostable materials that can decompose more easily, which could significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste in our environment.

The report estimates that the investment needed for the changes it recommends will cost around $65 billion a year.

However, moving to an economy where plastic is reused and recycled could bring $3.25 trillion in savings by 2040.

Cutting plastics by 80% would save 0.5 billion tons of planet-warming carbon pollution a year and create 700,000 new jobs, mostly in developing countries.

The report highlights the potential benefits of reducing plastic pollution on the environment and the economy, making it a win-win situation for everyone.

Stricter standards for non-recyclable waste and increased responsibility of manufacturers are also recommended.

Plastic pollution affects the planet, and the UNEP report offers a comprehensive approach to reducing it.

By reducing plastic pollution, we can protect our planet, safeguard human health, and boost the economy.

It's vital to take immediate action to combat plastic pollution, and following the UNEP's roadmap can help individuals and organizations make a positive impact.

Let's use sustainable and eco-friendly materials to create a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

Let's beat he plastic pollution with Sustainability Awakening.

You can read more about the menace of plastic, here.