Single-use plastics are one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges of modern times
United Nations
Single-use plastics pose significant threat to society
Major contributor to climate change
Main source of waste in natural areas
Main source of waste in natural areas
Plastic production is a large source of carbon emissions and growing faster than other industries with projections suggesting plastics lifecycle could make up 19% of global emissions by 2040
Main source of waste in natural areas
Main source of waste in natural areas
Main source of waste in natural areas
<10% of total plastic is recycled due to unrecyclable materials, infrastructure issues and consumer behavior. Most ends up in landfill or in natural areas, taking hundreds of years to degrade into microplastics, which never fully disappear
Critical danger to human wellbeing
Main source of waste in natural areas
Critical danger to human wellbeing
Many commonly used plastics release microplastics and other toxic chemicals with the presence of these carcinogenic chemicals identified in humans, including in breast milk and children