A new study by Trucost finds the environmental cost of using plastics in consumer goods and packaging is nearly four times less than if plastics were replaced with alternative materials. The study is based on natural capital accounting methods, which measure and value environmental impacts鈥攕uch 聽as consumption of water and emissions to air, land and water鈥攚hich are not typically factored into traditional financial accounting.
Previous reports, such as 鈥淰aluing Plastics鈥� (2014) by Trucost and 鈥淭he New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics鈥� (2016) by the World Economic Forum, only examined the environmental costs of using plastics.
Trucost鈥檚 latest study, 鈥淧lastics and Sustainability: A Valuation of Environmental Benefits, Costs, and Opportunities for Continuous Improvement,鈥� builds on earlier research by comparing the environmental costs of using plastics to alternative materials and identifying opportunities to help lower the environmental costs of using plastics in consumer goods and packaging.
These significant results disrupt a common misperception around plastics. Trucost found that replacing plastics in consumer products and packaging with a mix of alternative materials that provide the same function would increase environmental costs from $139 billion to $533 billion annually. That鈥檚 because strong, lightweight plastics help us do more with less material, which provides environmental benefits throughout the lifecycle of plastic products and packaging.
The study also concluded that the environmental costs of alternative materials can be lower per ton of production but are greater in aggregate due to the much larger quantities of material needed to fulfill the same purposes as plastics.
In addition, the report鈥檚 authors recommend steps to help further reduce plastics鈥� overall environmental costs, such as by increasing the use of lower-carbon electricity in plastics production, adopting lower-emission transport modes, developing even more efficient plastic packaging, and increasing recycling and energy conversion of post-use plastics to help curb ocean litter and conserve resources.
鈥淲e are very excited to present 鈥楶lastics and Sustainability,鈥� the largest natural capital study ever conducted for the plastics manufacturing sector,鈥� said Libby Bernick, senior vice president North America for Trucost. 鈥淭his report provides the clearest picture to date of the relative costs and benefits of plastics compared to alternative materials as well as important opportunities to enhance the environmental performance of using plastics in consumer goods.鈥�
鈥淲e now have a fuller picture of the environmental benefits of using plastics,鈥� said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council, which commissioned the study. 鈥淔rom lighter, more fuel-efficient cars to smart packaging that helps our favorite foods last longer, our industry is committed to ongoing innovations that will advance sustainability across major market sectors and the globe.鈥�
“Now is an exciting time for plastics and for sustainability. Emerging economies around the world are creating opportunities for more people to have access to health and hygiene products, good nutrition and the things that help us get more out of life. Making smart choices about what we produce and how we produce it will benefit people and the planet,鈥� Russell said.
鈥淏y leading in innovation and performance, the world鈥檚 plastics industry has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to help create a more sustainable future,鈥� said Jeff Wooster, global sustainability director for Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics and chair of ACC鈥檚 Packaging Team. 鈥淭his report provides a new tool to explore opportunities to further enhance plastics鈥� environmental performance with brand owners, shippers, recyclers and other value chain partners.鈥�
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