Global Material Flow of Macro- and Microplastics to Support a Circular Economy

Abstract

Plastics are one of the most widely consumed materials around the world, and its impact on our ecosystems is undeniable. Initiatives to reduce plastic waste have gained momentum in recent years, but the focus areas of such initiatives do not always align with significant positive impacts. This presentation demonstrates a material flow analysis (MFA) aimed at quantifying the global flow of plastics, from production to end of life, ultimately identifying where plastic reduction efforts can be most impactful. On a global scale, specific data on plastic production and material flow is lacking, so calculations relied heavily on data published in the United Nations' Mapping Global Plastics Report, based on the year 2015. The MFA was conducted with emphasis on end of life and flows lost to the environment, including macro- and microplastics. Across the global MFA, results show packaging was the largest individual industry consumer of plastics. Categories designated as “other” should be investigated further due to their substantial presence in the material flow. Plastics lost to the environment made up about 2% of the total mass, but that 2% equated to over 8 million metric tons. These lost plastics stem from various sources, making the issue difficult to tackle, but addressing this loss is important, nonetheless. Reducing demand for plastic production through decreased use is an obvious approach to minimizing waste and pollution, and this study provides insight about which plastics pose the greatest threat while also identifying current data gaps, ultimately guiding where future efforts should be focused.