This think piece was commissioned by the G20 to qualitatively consider possible policy options to achieve the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, which voluntarily commits G20 countries to “reduce additional pollution by marine plastic litter to zero by 2050 through a comprehensive life-cycle approach”, thereby ensuring that by 2050, the net volume of plastic entering the ocean is zero. It shows the marine plastic litter trends relevant to 2050, summarizes the current plastic policy landscape, and explores policy upstream and downstream interventions to achieve the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, and provides concrete actions to ensure that projected plastic leakage can be reduced by 80 percent with existing solutions.
THE 8 KEY POLICY MESSAGES ARE:
1. To deliver the necessary changes for the plastics economy to achieve the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, the G20 should accelerate its work on marine plastic litter as a priority.
2. Greater coordination of marine plastic litter reduction policies is urgently needed to deliver the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision.
3. A step change in international and national policy ambition is necessary to achieve the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision.
4. Actions that are known to reduce marine plastic litter should be encouraged, shared and scaled up immediately.
5. Supporting innovation to transition to a circular plastics economy is essential to achieving the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision.
6. There is a significant knowledge gap in the effectiveness of marine plastic litter policies. An urgent and independent program to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of plastics policies is required in order to identify the most effective solutions in different national and regional contexts.
7. The international trade in plastic waste should be regulated to protect people and nature.
8. COVID-19 recovery stimulus packages have the potential to support the delivery of the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision. Measures to reduce marine plastic litter will generate jobs in Greentech and Bluetech sectors and support the delivery of the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision.