Why is it in the news?

• The OECD has issued an interim report titled “Towards Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040: A Policy Scenario Analysis,” highlighting the urgency of addressing plastic pollution and outlining policy scenarios to achieve a plastic pollution-free world by 2040.

Key Findings of OECD Interim Report

• The report was presented in the 3rd session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution.
• The committee aims to establish an international binding agreement on plastic pollution.
• The full report with detailed analysis and policy guidance is expected in the first half of 2024.
• According to the report, in 2022, 21 million tonnes of plastics leaked into the environment globally.

Detrimental Consequences of Continued Plastic Use and Waste Volumes

• Environmental Impact: Accumulation of plastic in oceans, harming marine life.
• Climate Impact: Greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production. Energy-intensive processes required for plastic recycling.
• Health Impact: Microplastics enter the food chain (bioaccumulation) and affect human health. Further, respiratory issues occur due to the burning of plastic waste.
• Economic Impact: Costs associated with cleaning up plastic pollution. Loss of tourism revenue in areas affected by plastic debris.
• Wildlife Impact: Ingestion of plastic by animals, leading to fatalities.
• Resource Depletion: Depletion of fossil fuels for plastic production.

Recommendations Proposed in the Report

• Curb Production and Demand: Implement targeted taxes and regulations on avoidable plastics.
• Design for Circularity: Improve the plastic production process through eco-design criteria. Establish product standards that promote reuse.
• Enhance Recycling: Strengthen material loops by improving separate collection, sorting, and recycling of plastic waste. Implement measures like extended producer responsibility.
• Close Leakage Pathways: Decrease environmental losses by implementing effective waste collection and disposal methods.

Initiatives Taken to Tackle Microplastics

Global Initiatives:

• Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML)
• GloLitter Partnerships Project
• London Convention, 1972

India-Specific Initiatives

• Elimination of single-use plastic
• Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
• Un-Plastic Collective
• Kerala: Beat Plastic Pollution Initiative

How Other Countries Are Dealing with Single-Use Plastic

• 124 countries, including India, signed a resolution to address the full life of plastics, making it legally binding to end plastic pollution.
• 68 countries have plastic bag bans with varying degrees of enforcement.
• Bangladesh, banned thin plastic bags in 2002, China with a phased ban on plastic bags in 2020, and the EU with bans on certain single-use plastics with available alternatives.