In total, plastic production has increased significantly since 1950, shows a global analysis. Then, around two million tons were produced per year. In 2022, the figure was 400 million tons, a figure that according to forecasts will continue to increase.
The study of the plastics industry is published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment and the purpose has been to determine the extent of plastic production globally.
Most fossil fuels
The researchers have analyzed national data, companies' annual reports, and international databases to create a picture of the total plastic production worldwide.
Of all the millions of tons of plastic produced, only 9.5 percent is made from recycled material. Of the remaining production, 98 percent is made from fossil fuels, mainly coal and oil.
In 2022, only 28 percent of plastic waste was sorted at waste management facilities, and of these, only a small part was actually reused. The largest part of plastic waste, 58 percent, comes from the construction sector.
A lot to the dump
Around 36 percent of plastic waste ends up at the dump, and 22 percent goes to incineration. A bright spot, according to the study, is that there has been a total decrease in the proportion of plastic waste that ends up at the dump.
Among the world's countries, it is the USA that consumes the most plastic per capita – 216 kilos per person and year. China, on the other hand, accounts for the largest volume overall, a total of 80 million tons per year.
