Knowledge Areas - Plastic Reboot

Solving the Plastic Pollution Crisis: Circular Solutions

Plastic pollution is a global crisis that poses a serious threat to people, wildlife, and habitats. And yet, our society relies on plastic every day – such as keeping our food fresh, our packages lighter to ship, and our medical equipment hygienic and safe. This means that the solution to this ever growing crisis is not just as simple as phasing out all plastic.

The linear "take-make-dispose" pattern of the current plastics economy is a fundamental cause of plastic pollution. While much attention tends to fall on improving waste management, this approach fails to address the systemic drivers of the problem and does not account for the continued growth in plastic production and consumption.

To solve the plastic pollution crisis, we must shift economic incentives towards safe, efficient, and circular uses of plastic in the economy – and eliminate non-essential products that cannot be made circular.

Plastic Reboot primarily focuses on the upstream and midstream interventions to the plastic pollution crisis. Upstream measures will help eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic products and hazardous additives, shift to sustainable alternatives, and use recycled plastics as feedstock for plastic production. Midstream measures support innovation to extend the life of products where plastics are necessary, by creating reusable or recyclable products & by creating circular systems as well as reducing unnecessary consumption of single-use plastics by both consumers and commercial users.