Global Plastic leakage to the environment – projections, OECD report
Elif Akkaya*, Üsküdar Amerikan Lisesi, İstanbul
Background and Aim: Plastic material use is very common today and has become a part of modern life. The widespread use of plastics is a source for plastic waste. Aim of the study is to draw attention to the global increase in plastic waste and the need for project proposals for solutions.
Methods: Dataset of Global plastic leakage to the environment between years 2019-2060 were searched on the website of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Additionally, data were searched on the website of the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
Results: Based on scientific research, OECD used a prediction model that predicts how much global plastic waste will be by 2060 (1-4). OECD data predicts that Global plastic leakage will increase gradually until 2060 (Table). Additionally, Global Plastics Outlook – plastics use by application will increase according to the prediction model of OECD (5): Building & Construction, Electrical/electronics, Packaging, Transportation-other, Consumer & institutional products, Marine coating, Industrial/machinery, Textile sector-clothing, Personal care products, Textile sector-other, Road marking, Transportation, Other…etc. On 1 January 2019, a fee application was started for nylon bags within the scope of the Sustainable Environment and Climate Change/Prevention and Protection of Environmental Pollution Programme by the Republic of Turkey. Since January 1, 2019, the use of plastic bags per person in shopping has been reduced by 70% according to the 2022-23 strategic plan of The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change (6).
Conclusion: Decrease in the use of plastic bags is promising in terms of reducing plastic waste in Turkey. However, it is seen that there is a need for new projects to reduce the waste of plastic in other sectors where plastic use is common.
Table. Global plastic leakage according to the prediction model of OECD
| Year 2019-2029 (11 years) | Year 2030-2040 (11 years) | Year 2041-2050 (10 years) | Year 2051-2060 (10 years) | |
| Macroplastics | 230,20 | 275,43 | 303,27 | 358,29 |
| Microplastics | 32,77 | 41,33 | 45,46 | 53,74 |
| Total | 262,97 | 316,77 | 348,73 | 412,02 |
Data characteristics: Reference period: 2019-2060. Unit of measure used: Tonnes (t) of plastics. Date last updated: 05-May-2022. Data from the OECD website are presented in the table, simplified to the basis of ten-year.
Key words: Global plastic, Environment, Waste
*Student, Uskudar American Academy, elimertgrimi@gmail.com, ORCID No: 0000-0003-4559-1660