Concerns with Plastic Consumption

What is the issue?

Consumption of plastic in the Asia-pacific region is getting higher and hence companies need to demonstrate their own reduction commitments.

What is the background?

• Asia consumes 50% of global plastic packaging, which could quadruple by 2050.
• Food, beverage and healthcare represent 75% of plastic packaging use.
• New consumption patterns, including Asia’s rising appetite for e-commerce and food delivery add to demand for plastic packaging.
• However, recycling rates are low, with the exception of Japan (83%) and Taiwan (35%).
• Hence the region contributes 82% of plastic waste which leaks into oceans with China, India and ASEAN contributing 2.7-7.3million tonnes per annum.

What are the concerns?

• Plastic represents 37% of packaging in Asia, worth $150 billion.
• Though there are obvious benefits of using plastic like durability, safety, hygiene, and lightweight, 95% is designed for short-term (single) use and could take more than 500 years to biodegrade.
• Since the early 1950s, more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced globally.
• But only 9% of plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, 12% incinerated and 79% ended up in landfills, dumps or the natural environment.
• Plastic waste dumping in the ocean is becoming an increasing environmental concern.
• The major rivers in Asia carry more than 90% of plastic waste in the ocean.
• The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) estimates that the cost, due to plastic pollution, to tourism, fishing and shipping industries was $1.3billion in the region alone.
• Also, majority of the plastic waste in Asia is “mismanaged”, wherein low economic value contributes to nearly 45% of Asia’s plastic waste getting mismanaged (i.e., dumped).

What is the reason behind low plastic waste collection rate across the world?

• Low economic value - 80% of plastic waste has low residual value such as plastic bags.
• Alternatively, higher recycling for aluminium cans (55%) fetches sufficiently high selling prices relative to collection costs, thus making it economically attractive.
• Poor separation at source – Plastic collection often involves co-mingling of paper, glass and aluminium and majority of the sorting occurs manually.
• High rate of pigment contamination - Clear plastics have the highest value and are preferred in the recycling market.
• Dyed and pigmented plastics contain contaminants and are often disposed rather than recycled.
• Cheaper to dump or export than to recycle - With the absence of subsidies from the government, it is often cheaper to export and dump plastic waste in landfill.

What should be done?

• In January 2018, China banned the import of plastic waste.
• Prior to the ban, China imported up to 56% of global exported plastic waste.
• The largest exporters of waste to China included the US, the UK, the EU and Japan.
• After China’s ban, we are likely to see more stringent plastic waste policies introduced across the globe and in Asia.
• Also, there is growing acceptance of plastic reduction in many companies in Asia.
• Thus, reduction in quantity of material per package and use of recycled materialby the companies will demonstrate commitment to plastic waste reduction in the future.

Source: Financial Express