Output
The Plastic Problem
We are experiencing a global plastics crisis. 11 million metric tons of plastic ends up in our oceans every year. That’s equivalent to one garbage truckload of plastic waste every minute. This is projected to nearly triple to around 29 million metric tons (or 2.5 trucks per minute) by 2040.
The Plastic ProblemHere at the Global Plastic Policy Centre, we have found that the existing plastic policy landscape often addresses plastic products or lifecycle stages in a siloed approach that limits the effectiveness of innovative measures to tackle the plastic problem.
Systemic change and transitions towards sustainable solutions are necessary. As such, our evidence-based analysis of existing policies is needed to help inform better decision making and approaches around plastic policies.
The Global Policy Review
We’ve created a bank of independently reviewed plastics policies and initiatives using open-sourced, publicly available information. Through an analytical framework, these reviews determine the effectiveness of policies in reducing plastic pollution and we offer recommendations in light of this evidence, to enhance future policy making.
The first of its kind, this platform provides a central point for information on policy effectiveness and the barriers to plastic policy success.
The database provides information on nearly 200 plastics policies in the areas of:
- National bans
- Taxes and levies
- Consumer behaviour campaigns
- Recycling
- Waste management
- Environmental protection
- Private sector initiatives
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- National plans and roadmaps
Case Studies
View policies by location
International Legally Binding Instrument updates
Update
Posted on: 16 December 2023
Who knows it feels it: legislative theatre at INC-3
Waste pickers from Kenya delivered a powerful and unique message to policymakers at the beginning of the third round of plastics treaty negotiations in Nairobi, inviting delegates and observers...
Read articleUpcoming Events
FAQs
- What is the Global Plastics Policy Centre?
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The Global Plastics Policy Centre is a Flotilla Foundation funded platform and initiative designed to provide independent analysis of plastics policies. By providing reviews of a variety of policy types, we are able to offer recommendations and the evidence base required to pursue more effective policy making. We are made up of a team of researchers and analysts at the University of Portsmouth’s Revolution Plastics Institute. Find out more on the About page.
- How are the policies reviewed?
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The policies were compared against a framework composed of 45 reference statements. These reference statements looked at:
- The performance of each policy against its own objectives;
- The extent to which each policy reduced plastic pollution regardless of the stated purpose of the policy; and
- The factors contributing to policy effectiveness.
For more information see our Methods page.
- Why are policies reviewed in isolation?
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Policies were reviewed in isolation because in most cases in the existing policy landscape, policies are implemented in isolation as independent policies. Where possible, other policies which might have influenced the outcomes identified in the evidence, were taken into account.
- What about the countries that haven’t been reviewed?
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This is just the start of the Global Plastics Policy Centre, and more policies will be added in time, with various focuses. However, for this first review, policies were chosen specifically from different contexts. This includes location, when they were created, and the development state in which they were created.