The Problem With Plastic Packaging (2024)

Plastic waste is a global problem. Packaging accounts for around 36 percent of all plastic produced, according to the UN, and 85 percent of it ends up in landfills. Most single-use plastics (98 percent) are produced from fossil fuels. Plastic produced from fossil fuels will increase by 19 percent of the global carbon budget by 2040.

Less than 10 percent of plastic waste is recycled. Plastic waste not recycled has an estimated annual value loss of $80 to $120 billion. Some of the plastic waste not recycled ends up in the oceans. An estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic are in the oceans. The amount of ocean plastic could almost triple by 2040.

Greenwashing plastic waste reduction commitments

One Earth analyzed the commitments to reduce plastic pollution made by 973 companies from 2015 to 2020, including the top 300 of the Fortune Global 500. The analysis showed 67 percent of companies with a plastic pollution waste reduction commitment had measurable and timebound commitments. Most companies analyzed target packaging and general plastics while emphasizing recycling efforts rather than tackling virgin plastics. “Significantly more efforts beyond plastic recycling are required to effectively address plastic pollution challenges,” the analysis concluded.

The analysis also found that only three percent of the top 300 companies on the Fortune Global 500 targeted virgin or new plastic. For example, Unilever has pledged to reduce the virgin plastic in its packaging by half by 2025.

Making plastic packaging and containers lighter, called lightweighting, is a practice used by companies in their plastic waste reduction commitments. Examples include making PET bottles thinner or bottle caps shorter. However, if sales increase of products with less plastic per package, the number of packaging units increases.

“We found limited evidence to suggest that corporate commitments are actually reducing the amount of global plastic pollution,” said Zoie Diana, author of the recent One Earth study. “Unfortunately, we found reports of companies lightweighting plastic.”

A report by Changing Markets cites numerous examples of greenwashing among companies with plastic packaging waste reduction commitments:

• Coca-Cola advertised that some of its bottles contain 25 percent marine plastic, but the company did not mention that it is the world’s largest plastic polluter.
• Procter & Gamble advertised that its Head and Shoulders shampoo bottle contains “beach plastic." However, the bottle is dyed blue and cannot be recycled.
• Unilever replaced recyclable PET bottles of liquid washing detergent with pouches. The pouches are unrecyclable and only have two refills.
• IKEA claims it is “‘turning off the tap on plastic pollution by creating the first global network of ocean-bound plastics supply chains.” The company launched a range of "sustainable" textiles made from plastic waste collected in the Mediterranean Sea. Neither producing nor purchasing these products The Problem With Plastic Packagingstops plastic waste from entering the ocean.

Plastic waste reduction is possible

Reducing plastic waste is possible. An analysis of plastic pollution found that “feasible interventions” could reduce plastic pollution by 40 percent from 2016 rates in 2040. Many companies announced commitments to reducing plastic packaging waste. However, current commitments will reduce annual plastic flows to the ocean by only seven percent, according to Pew Trusts. It is possible to reduce the annual flow into the ocean by 80 percent by 2040.