Marine plastic litter is gaining heightened global attention as an environmental problem. Each year, more than 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans, wreaking havoc on marine wildlife, fisheries, and tourism and costing at least US$8 billion in damage to marine ecosystems. World production of plastic materials in 2016 was 280 million tonnes, of which about one third was single-use plastics.
This report provides a global overview on the progress countries have made in passing laws and regulations that limit the manufacture, import, sale, use, and disposal of selected single-use plastics and microplastics. It is based on a review of national legally-binding instruments that include bans and restrictions, taxes and levies, and waste management measures to enhance disposal, encourage reuse and recycling, and promote alternatives to plastic products. The report includes three sections: 1) plastic bags, 2) other single-use plastics, and 3) microbeads. It should enable future research by enhancing the understanding of existing legal requirements to prevent plastic pollution at the country level.