World Environment Day
Since 1973, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has hosted World Environment Day, an annual international celebration for the environment. In its 50th year, for 2023 the UNEP is promoting a global call to action to beat plastic pollution.
The call comes seven years after Dame Ellen Macarthur forecast that by 2050 there would be more waste plastic in the sea than fish. Since then, discussion of how to address single-use plastic pollution has risen up the global agenda, driven by voices including Sir David Attenborough in Blue Planet.
There have been some signs of progress – for example, consumers shifting their shopping habits to select non-plastic packaging between 2019 and 2021, and the EU leading global action on plastic expected to reach a binding global agreement in 2024 But despite this, the Minderoo Foundation reported that in 2021, 139 million metric tons (MMT) of single-use plastic waste were generated globally, up six in just two years, representing a kilogram more plastic packaging waste per human. In the EU and USA, plastic use has tripled over the past four decades with 67 MMT consumed by EU members states and 84 MMT consumed by the US in 2019. In APAC, China reported an estimated 94 MMT of plastics used in the same time period.
In our oceans, according to the charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation, 67% of species of whale and dolphin are now affected by plastic pollution, with plastics having been shown to affect whales negatively’ and dolphins’ ability to feed, digest, navigate, breathe, breed, and migrate. Additionally, in 2022 microplastic pollution was detected in human blood for the first time with scientists finding tiny particles in almost of 80% of people tested.
Given that plastic pollution poses a significant challenge to both our environment and society, continued and collaborative action resulting in a positive impact to reverse the reported trend is vital.
Of course, this is no easy challenge to overcome. Plastic is embedded in so many parts of products we rely on daily, from toys to food packaging, making addressing its impact more than an issue of tackling pollution or waste. In fact, it is intertwined with other critical issues, touching on social and economic considerations as well. For some people and in some countries, plastics provide the world's growing population with greater access to fresh foods, safer drinking water and medicines.
Delivering solutions that work for all parts of society and all geographies – solutions that are accessible and affordable to all - offers the best opportunity for us to effectively tackle plastic pollution.
There are many ways in which we can make a positive impact by addressing some of the perceived costs of cutting plastic usage. By shifting our thinking, we can start to look at materials through a different lens and begin integrating the principles of circularity.
Looking at the plastic challenge beyond just waste means seeing the challenge through the whole life cycle of the product, from its manufacture, use and end of life, designing in such a way that we embed the potential for reuse, remanufacture and recycling. Each stage of the plastic life cycle can have both positive and negative impacts for the environment and society, depending on how we manage it. In addition, plastics’ lifecycle can vary across both sectors and regions, depending on their required uses within a sector and the manufacturing and waste management infrastructure. For example, in Europe only 48% per cent of 67 MmT of municipal waste generated annually is recycled. In the US this figure drops to 32.1% of their annual municipal waste generation of 292 MT. In Asia in 2021, a perceived lack of recycling waste management programs was reported as a key factor inhibiting recycling. Nevertheless, there is still much that we can do to reduce the impact of plastics but still realise the benefit that this material brings to all countries and people worldwide.
Firstly, it’s about infrastructure and ensuring we have the requisite waste handling and treatment facilities in place. This is a significant challenge, as over 3 billion of the world’s 8 billion population (38%) don’t have access to proper waste disposal facilities.
For facilities and product designers this can also mean focusing on the value of the material they are working with, not just in the recycling of waste but in innovating in this space. This could include looking at how these materials can be downcycled (whereby something of lesser value, but of at least some value, is created from the original item once it has been discarded). If we think about waste differently there are opportunities for all types of organizations.
Transitioning to a more circular approach involves taking a life-cycle perspective of the product and designing out the risks of pollution, while designing in the potential for positive societal benefits and minimised impact to people and planet. This assessment would also include the total carbon emissions.
Equally, it is about innovation to significantly reduce emissions at the front end of the process, which includes using renewable energy or bio-based materials that act as an alternative to traditional fossil-fuel based plastics. In reality, having multiple solutions based on dual horizons can help us accelerate progress toward a low-carbon future that protects our oceans from plastic and our environment from greenhouse gas emissions.
As a purpose-driven organization (PDO), BSI is committed to helping organizations and society turn their ambitions into action by addressing plastic pollution. Our expertise can support waste reduction and environmental management (ISO14001), and support environmental assessment specifically on the packaging that organizations develop and use (ISO18600 series). In July 2021 we launched a new standard on the handling of plastic pellets, flakes and powders throughout the supply chain to prevent their leakage to the environment (PAS 510).
Given the link between plastic pollution and climate change, action on addressing plastic waste and pollution can form a critical component of an organization’s net zero journey and wider sustainability strategy as reporting requirements come into effect. To support organizations on this journey, we launched the ISO Net Zero guidelines at COP27 to provide an end-to-end framework for taking credible net zero action. BSI is now turning this into an auditable solution to help organizations be truly transparent in their journey.
Recognizing the scale of the challenge and the desire from consumers to know what the sustainable purchasing choice is, we are also working on a Sustainable Packaging Kitemark to provide an independent mark of trust to demonstrate to consumers where sustainable packaging best practice has been followed throughout the supply chain.
Taking action on reducing the use of polluting plastics and delivering benefits to society is an opportunity for us all, including individual consumers and organizations. We have the potential to play a leading role in supporting the innovations that enable low-carbon manufacturing and finds ways to minimise our reliance on single-use plastic.
Plastic was invented less than 100 years ago. With innovation and collaboration across society, we have the chance to find a way to address its impacts and shape a better future for all, both on World Environment Day, and in the years to come.
