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Introduction

Global efforts to frame a treaty on plastic pollution face stiff resistance, particularly on reducing production at source. UNEP’s repeated attempts since 2022 reveal disagreements among nations, balancing environmental goals with economic interests, industrial growth, and trade concerns.

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Key Challenges in Tackling Plastic Pollution

Global Challenges

• Massive Plastic Production:  According to UNEP, the world produces more than 430 million tonnes (MT) of plastic annually, two-thirds of which are short-lived products. 
• High Waste Mismanagement: Alarmingly, 46% of plastic waste ends up in landfills, and 22% is mismanaged, becoming litter. 
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Plastic, derived from fossilised crude, generated 1.8 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, approximately 3.4% of the global total. 
• Impact on Island Nations: Island nations and territories are swamped by plastic waste washing up on their shores. 
• Microplastics Contamination: Plastic fragments enter marine and food chains, affecting humans and wildlife. 
• Resistance to Production Cuts: Nations fear economic and trade losses from reducing plastic output. 

India Challenges

• High Plastic Generation: India produces approximately 3.4 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste annually, contributing significantly to environmental pollution.
• Low Recycling Rates: Only around 30% of this plastic waste is recycled, leaving the majority to accumulate in landfills and water bodies.
• Rising Consumption: Plastic use is growing rapidly at a CAGR of 9.7%, rising from 14 MT in 2016–17 to over 20 MT in 2019–20, driven by packaging and consumer goods demand.
• Limited Impact of Bans: Despite bans on roughly 20 single-use plastic items such as cups, straws, and spoons, enforcement gaps limit their effectiveness.
• Waste Management Challenges: Most strategies emphasize collection and recycling, with minimal focus on reducing plastic at the source, leading to persistent environmental stress.

Strategies to Balance Development with Environmental Sustainability

Global Strategies

• Circular Economy Models: Promote reuse, repair, and recycling to minimize waste and resource extraction.
  Eg: Sweden recycles over 99% of its household waste, turning much of it into energy through waste-to-energy plants.
• Eco-design Regulations: Mandate biodegradable or reusable packaging to reduce environmental impact.
• Global Treaties and Cooperation: Encourage multilateral agreements to reduce production and manage pollution collectively.
  Eg: The Montreal Protocol successfully phased out ozone-depleting substances through global cooperation.
• Incentives for Private Sector: Offer subsidies, tax breaks, or grants for businesses adopting sustainable practices.
  Eg: Germany’s renewable energy incentives encourage companies to invest in solar and wind energy, promoting green growth.

India Strategies

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Require producers to take responsibility for the collection and recycling of their plastic products.
  Eg: The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 require producers to adopt eco-friendly packaging materials and comply with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines. 
• Municipal Waste Infrastructure: Strengthen segregation, collection, and processing systems at the city level to prevent plastic leakage into the environment.
  Eg: Indore achieved 100% source segregation of waste through door-to-door collection and centralized facilities
• Behavioural Change Campaigns: Promote awareness and reduction of single-use plastics among citizens.
  Eg: The ‘Plastic Out, fabric In’ campaign by MoHUA encourages citizens to minimize plastic use through education and outreach.
• Recycling Technology Investments: Expand mechanical and chemical recycling capacity to process diverse plastic waste streams efficiently.
  Eg: Startups like Agilyx India are exploring chemical recycling of mixed plastics to produce fuel and raw materials.
  
• Policy-Industry Collaboration: Co-create incentives and regulations to reduce plastic production at the source and encourage sustainable alternatives.
  Eg: Government-industry initiatives in biodegradable packaging promote adoption while providing tax benefits to manufacturers.

Conclusion 

Plastic pollution threatens the environment, health, and economy, challenging SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Effective solutions include coordinated policies, advanced recycling, behavioural change, public-private collaboration, circular economy models, and global cooperation to balance development with sustainability.

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