[Reading Science] This Substance, Once the "Pride of Civilization" Now a Target for Ban, Requires Three Things

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Representatives from over 150 countries worldwide have been discussing the establishment of an international plastic treaty to address plastic pollution since the 28th in Uruguay. Plastic, one of the greatest inventions that advanced human civilization, is increasingly being identified as a major cause of resource depletion, marine and atmospheric pollution, and global warming due to excessive use. Consequently, there is growing international demand for usage restrictions, recycling, and improvements in disposal methods.

According to the international academic journal Nature on the 30th, plastic is currently the fastest-growing material in terms of usage, and its production and consumption are expected to double by 2050, exceeding 1 billion tons annually. The problem is that such plastic is the main culprit behind various types of pollution. In March, UN member states gathered in Kenya, Africa, and agreed to sign an international treaty by the end of 2024 that includes legal regulations to reduce pollution throughout the plastic lifecycle?from production to packaging, manufacturing, and business models. The current meeting in Uruguay is a follow-up to that agreement and is expected to lay the foundation for an international solution to the plastic problem.

Clearly Define Producer and National Responsibilities

Plastic accounts for 85% of all marine debris, causing not only simple pollution but also severe issues such as microplastic contamination and destruction of marine ecosystems. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the amount of marine plastic waste is expected to increase by 23 to 37 million tons annually until 2040, tripling the current levels. According to the Australian private charity Minderoo Foundation, the total cost caused by plastic waste produced on land that flows into rivers and eventually reaches the ocean without being recycled or disposed of properly exceeds approximately 100 billion dollars annually.

Greenpeace activists are performing a large fish swallowing plastic waste in front of the Lotte Chilsung Beverage headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 25th, demanding companies reduce plastic usage. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Linda Godfrey, Chief Scientist at the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, stated, "The costs incurred by ignoring plastic waste far exceed the costs required to solve the problem," adding, "This agreement should include provisions that require all countries, to varying degrees, to take all possible measures such as banning single-use plastics, developing alternatives, improving waste collection and management, and promoting recycling."

Experts also argue that manufacturers should be required to pay for collection, sorting, and recycling costs, and participating countries should set deadlines for how much and by when plastic usage must be reduced.

Institutional Improvements Essential to Promote Recycling

Currently, the global recycling rate of plastic waste is only about 9% annually. To boost this, environmental activists urge countries worldwide to require producers to pay additional fees each time they manufacture polymers, the main component of plastic, and to mandate plastic product sellers to buy back and recycle their products. Although these measures would lead to price increases passed on to consumers, they are expected to ultimately promote sorting, recycling, and reduce the production of non-recyclable plastics, thereby helping to resolve the problem. Some also argue that legal and institutional measures should be introduced within five years to penalize companies that emit pollution-causing plastic waste.

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Urgent Need to Confirm and Address Negative Impacts on Human Health

Among the pollution caused by plastics, the issue of plastic incineration, which mainly occurs in underdeveloped countries such as those in Asia, is considered the most urgent to resolve. According to Nature, about 4.2 million people died in 2016 due to exposure to outdoor air pollution, with 91% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Cressida Boyer, a biology professor at the University of Portsmouth, stated, "Incinerating plastic can reduce its volume and prevent it from becoming a habitat for bacteria, viruses, and mosquitoes. However, incineration is a major cause of air pollution. Especially when plastic is buried in soil, collection for recycling is extremely difficult, if not impossible. This agreement should encourage finding alternatives to plastic."

Solutions are also needed for the microplastic problem. Tiny plastic particles as small as 5 nanometers (nm) are known to cause inflammation and damage to human skin and lung cells. Substances contained in plastics such as bisphenol A, phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls are strongly suspected to be closely related to endocrine disruption and reproductive abnormalities.

Sarah Dunlop, Director of the Minderoo Foundation, said, "We have only just opened Pandora's box to understand how much plastics and related chemicals affect the human body," emphasizing, "This treaty should include provisions to protect human health through chemical regulations and other measures."