What makes the situation more dangerous is that two-thirds of this production is thrown into waste after being used once or more, and that less than 10% of plastic waste is subject to recycling.
Ministers and representatives of about 60 countries met Saturday at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris to discuss solutions to the international plastic crisis, in a meeting organized by France to give impetus to sensitive negotiations on an international treaty to combat plastic pollution, which will resume on Monday in Paris.
At the end of the talks on Saturday, French Assistant Minister of Environmental Transition Beranger Cuillard said during a press conference, “We touched on the production and composition of plastics, the fight against microplastics, as well as the issue of better collection and recycling, especially supporting developing countries that sometimes face more difficulties in collecting” waste.
For his part, the Minister of the Environmental Transition, Christophe Piceau, had previously pointed out the need for “the issue of recycling not to replace the discussion about reducing plastic production.”
The plastic waste crisis
What makes the situation more dangerous is that two-thirds of this production is thrown into waste after being used once or more, and that less than 10% of plastic waste is subject to recycling.
Plastic derived from petroleum is part of everything that surrounds us, such as packaging, clothing fibers, building materials, medical tools, and more. Its annual production has more than doubled in twenty years to reach 460 million tons, and it may triple by 2060 if the world does not take action.
“If we increase recycling rates and at the same time increase our production, we will go backwards in terms of solving the problem. Therefore, first we have to reduce waste and then increase recycling,” added Bichoux.
In his statement, Bisho referred to the goal of “reducing use and production” put forward by the most ambitious countries, a coalition of 56 countries headed by Rwanda and Norway and includes the European Union, Canada and Chile, in addition to Japan and Gabon since Friday.
NGOs and scholars focus on this goal. However, other countries on the Asian side – China and India in particular – or the United States, seem more reluctant and keen above all on recycling and combating the spread of waste disposed in nature.
“Every country must be clear about the goal” of reducing waste to zero by 2040, Jose Fernandez, US Deputy Secretary of Economic Development, Energy and Environment told AFP.
“But we must leave each country with the task of charting its course” to fulfill this commitment, which was previously made by the Group of Seven in April.
“The strongest evidence shows that reducing production will be key to solving the problem,” said Richard Thompson, a member of the Alliance of Scientists to Make the International Treaty Against Plastic Pollution More Effective.
He attributed the low recycling rate to the fact that “few products are designed for a circular economy”.
