A new report reveals the alarming scale of Earth’s plastic crisis.
This year, the world is set to generate a staggering 220 million tonnes of plastic waste—equivalent to 650 Empire State Buildings.
Thursday, Sept 5 marks Plastic Overshoot Day, when our plastic waste surpasses our ability to manage it. We have 117 days left in 2024, and during this time, plastic waste will not be effectively managed, according to Earth Action.
2024's Plastic Overshoot Day is the second annual event by Earth Action. They project that nearly 70 million metric tonnes of this year's plastic waste will end up in nature. This is due to a mismatch between the amount of plastic produced and our ability to handle it.
On average, each person will produce about 28 kg of plastic waste this year. Since 2021, total plastic waste has increased by 7% annually.
In the UK, Plastic Overshoot Day will occur on December 8, meaning plastic management will be inadequate for a few weeks. In contrast, many developing countries hit their overshoot days as early as January or February. Countries like Eritrea, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Egypt are already overwhelmed.
Currently, 66% of the global population lives in areas where plastic waste exceeds management capacity. Twelve countries are responsible for 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste, with China, Russia, India, Brazil, and Mexico leading the list.
Sarah Perreard, co-chief executive of Earth Action & Plastic Footprint Network, emphasised that Plastic Overshoot Day highlights the urgent need for change.
“The decisions we make today will impact ecosystems and economies for generations,” she said. She warned that continuing business-as-usual approaches will worsen the crisis.
The final round of UN negotiations for a global plastics treaty will take place in November in South Korea. This treaty aims to regulate plastic production, set recycling targets, and ban harmful chemicals. However, some stakeholders are pushing to weaken these agreements.
Earth Action warns that even with improved waste management practices, the amount of mismanaged plastic waste remains largely unchanged due to increasing production. The idea that recycling alone will solve the crisis without reducing plastic production is flawed.
Nicolas Rochat, founder of Mover Plastic Free Sportswear, added, “Continuing with unchecked plastic production is irresponsible and threatens both businesses and humanity. We need to invest in sustainable alternatives rather than relying on temporary fixes.”
