A new United Nations report lays out a path that could cut plastic pollution by 80 percent by 2040, the authors contend. It calls for a “system change” with three key focuses: accelerating reuse; recycling; and reorienting and diversifying to sustainable alternatives to plastic. And it analyzes opportunities, impacts, and barriers associated with all three focuses.
Reuse systems (like refillable bottles and takeback programs) could reduce plastic pollution by 30 percent by 2040. Strengthening the market for recycled plastics could spur another 20% drop on top of that figure. And sustainable alternatives could generate an additional 17% reduction.
