By Abbas Nazil
A new research has projected that plastic pollution will more than double to 280 million tonnes annually by 2040, equivalent to a rubbish truck of plastic waste dumped every second.
The research has, however, revealed that the 66 million tonnes of plastic packaging entering the global environment each year could be almost eliminated by 2040 through reuse and return schemes.
The Pew Charitable Trusts, in collaboration with experts from Imperial College London and the University of Oxford, found that plastic, once considered a revolutionary material, now poses severe risks to public health, economies, and the planet.
The packaging sector, responsible for soft films, bottles, tubs, and other single-use items, is the largest contributor to this waste, accounting for 33 percent of global plastic pollution in 2025.
The study, Breaking the Plastic Wave 2025, highlights the environmental, health, and economic consequences of inaction, including pollution of land, water, and air, exposure to toxic chemicals, harm to wildlife through ingestion and entanglement, and increased disease risks for humans.
Plastic production, derived from fossil fuels, is expected to rise 52 percent from 450 million tonnes in 2025 to 680 million tonnes in 2040, outpacing global waste management capabilities.
The research emphasizes that interventions such as deposit return systems, reusable packaging, production reduction, polymer bans, and substitution with alternative materials like glass, metal, and cardboard could cut plastic pollution by 97 percent in 15 years.
Health risks associated with plastic exposure include hormone disruption, fertility issues, low birth weights, developmental changes in children, diabetes, and increased cardiovascular and cancer risks.
Greenhouse gas emissions from the global plastic system are projected to rise 58 percent by 2040, reaching 4.2 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent, ranking plastic production as the third-largest emitter globally if unmitigated.
However, coordinated action could reduce emissions by 38 percent, health impacts by 54 percent, and save governments $19 billion annually in plastic collection and disposal costs.
Experts stress that with political will and global commitment, the plastic system can be transformed within a generation, offering hope for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable planet.