Report – Beyond plastic: the hidden burden of pollution

Plastic is one of the defining materials of the modern age: light, durable, affordable, and versatile, it is now present in every aspect of our daily lives. It is used across sectors ranging from packaging to construction, medicine to transport. However, these very same properties – especially its resistance to degradation – also make it one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. 

Since the 1950s, it is estimated that humanity has produced over 9 billion tons of plastic, of which around 7 billion have already become waste. In 2023 alone, more than 410 million tons were placed on the global market, with more than  90% derived from fossil sources. The main production areas are China, East Asia, and North America, which together account for more than 70% of global output. Europe, though declining, still produces about 54 million tons per year, representing roughly 12% of the global total, with nearly 80% of its production based on oil and gas. 

In the EU, 40% of plastic produced is used for packaging, followed by construction and the automotive sector. One of the most critical issues is the use of single-use and non-essential plastic products, often associated with very short lifecycles and poorly managed end-of-life. Globally, only 11% of plastic is actually recycled, while 19% is incinerated and 49% ends up in managed landfills. The remaining 21% – equivalent to about 85 million tons per year – is leaked into the environment, burned illegally, or abandoned in illegal dumpsites. 

Although Europe performs better than the global average, it is still far from meeting its own plastic recycling targets: 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030.