Global Scans · Plastics · Weekly Summary

• [New] As global plastic bans tighten - from the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive to GCC 2026 compliance frameworks - the demand for biodegradable and compostable tableware is accelerating at unprecedented speed. TechBullion
• [New] Reuse alone could account for two-thirds of a 97% reduction in plastic packaging pollution by 2040. Gizmodo
• [New] Annual production of primary plastic-tiny pellets used to make larger plastic products - is on track to increase 52% by 2040, growing twice as fast as waste management. Gizmodo
• [New] Plastic emissions in coastal habitats may increase by more than 50% by 2030 if present trends continue. / India India Water Portal
• [New] Increasing the Plastic Packaging Tax in line with CPI inflation for 2026 to 2027 does not go far enough. WhatTheyThink
• [New] Plastic pollution will double by 2040 at the current rate. Positive News
• [New] A study from the World Economic Forum highlights that by 2025, advances in chemical recycling will make it possible to recycle up to 95% of plastic waste, recovering the majority of materials for reuse in new products. 2025 Top 5 Innovations Driving the Circular Economy Rev
• [New] Nearly eliminating plastic pollution from the packaging sector and reducing plastic pollution from all major economic sectors by 83% by 2040 is possible with international political attention, commitment of resources and existing technologies, continued innovation, and strategic policy approaches. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] A globally agreed levy would be effective in realizing the societal costs of plastic production and could help shift the plastic system towards reuse, recycling and materials substitution. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] Across the reuse and substitute levers, System Transformation effectively replaces 70% (148 Mt) of the single-use plastic required in 2040 under BAU with a combined 95 Mt of glass, metal, reusable plastic, paper and compostables. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] Across geographies, annual per capita plastic packaging waste decreases substantially by 2040 relative to BAU, declining 68% from 23 kg per person to 7 kg per person globally. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] By 2040, System Transformation achieves a 38% reduction in annual GHG emissions relative to BAU, mostly from decreased primary plastic production. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] If current trends continue, 1.1 billion metric tons of plastic will be made annually by 2050 - and the cumulative total will be enough, Geyer says, to cover the U.S. in an ankle-deep layer. Scientific American
• [New] The ability to convert food waste and plastic into fuel will be invaluable for the future of the planet. The Cool Down
• [New] After the failure of the most recent round of negotiations for the UN treaty to end plastic pollution, the COP will consider a decision urging Parties to ban cigarette filters and other tobacco product waste. ASH > Action on Smoking & Health
• [New] The phasing out of plastic bread tags and pizza savers - the tripod-like devices that stop the topping from sticking to box lids - will start from late 2027. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] In the next 20-50 years, digital identity will leave behind passwords and plastic IDs to become a dynamic, privacy-preserving, interoperable fabric that spans people, organizations, devices, and intelligent agents - including non-human actors such as AI systems and robots. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Boosting the use of regrind plastic, designing for modular assembly, and phasing in low-emission production can help to reduce environmental impact and generate $100 billion in retained material value by 2050. Under the Hard Hat

Last updated: 08 December 2025