This report provides a comprehensive global mapping of plastic losses to the environment throughout the plastic value chain using 2015 as the reference year. This mapping covers plastics production and processing, use of plastics or plastic containing products, and disposal of the products. It differentiates 23 types of plastics and 13 plastic applications, including division between macro- and microplastics.
It was found that approximately 3.0 and 5.3 million tonnes of micro- and macroplastics, respectively, are lost to the environment annually. The largest sources of microplastic losses were from abrasion of tyres and city dust (e.g. abrasion of plastics from shoe soles, exterior paints, and road markings). The primary sources of macroplastic losses stem from mismanaged municipal solid waste (i.e. open dumping and inadequate landfilling), accounting for about half of the macroplastics lost to the environment. Littering of plastic waste and loss of fishing gears and other equipment related to maritime activities were also major sources of macroplastic losses.
To reduce losses and potential impacts on the marine environment, the report recommends:
- Reducing the loss of macroplastics from municipal solid waste (MSW), in particular plastic packaging. Initiatives should not be limited to the end-of-life stage. Instead, measures for reducing potential plastic losses at the end-of-life stage should be implemented along the entire plastic value chain. Particular focus should be on Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East, which are where the largest losses occur.
- Reducing microplastics losses from use of consumer-related applications. Initiatives should not be limited to the use stage. Instead, measures for reducing potential plastic losses at the use stage should be implemented along the entire plastic value chain. Particular focus should be on North America, Asia (excluding Japan and India), and Western Europe, which are responsible for the majority of microplastic losses.
- Reducing direct plastic losses from marine activities (e.g. fishing, aquaculture).
- Reducing losses of plastics that have been identified to pose a hazardous risk to marine organisms.