The plastics dilemma

Since 1950, the global production of polymers has risen from 1.7 million to 348 million tonnes per annum. This development is due to the low cost and versatile properties of plastics, but has led to considerable environmental pollution. International initiatives are increasingly concerned with reducing polymer production and consumption as well as promoting recycling. The aim of the study "Evaluating the potential to reduce the global demand for polymers" conducted by Chinese and British scientists is therefore to systematically record the global material flows of 14 polymer groups, to develop projections for demand and waste generation up to the year 2100, and to quantify the potential for reducing demand as well as mechanical and chemical recycling. The study was published in "Resources, Conservation & Recycling".