Global plastic production has seen a substantial increase in recent decades, rising from 2m metric tons annually in 1950 to 450m metric tons by 2019. This growth is projected to continue.
The expansion of plastic production has had a significant environmental impact. Each day, the equivalent of 2,000 truckloads of plastic is reportedly dumped into the world's water bodies. Additionally, when plastic is landfilled or incinerated, it releases toxic and planet-heating emissions into the atmosphere.
Recycling rates remain low, with less than a tenth of all plastic globally being recycled. In the US, only about 5% of plastic waste generated by households is recycled. Public concern about plastic pollution is growing, with a June survey indicating that nearly 90% of Americans are worried about microplastics.