Epidemic stimulates plastic consumption research: plastic waste flowing into the ocean will surge

　　China News Service, August 3 According to a report by Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao on the 3rd, the International Solid Waste Association pointed out that the new crown epidemic has raged the world and the consumption of disposable plastics has increased. The latest research shows that if no action is taken, by 2040, the annual global plastic waste flowing into the ocean will increase by more than 1.6 times. But if countries are willing to make changes throughout the system, it will reduce the plastic waste flowing into the ocean by more than 80%.

Data map: The plastic waste collected by the newly established environmental recycling company in Bilton, Switzerland is piling up.

　　According to reports, under the influence of the epidemic, global demand for plastic products has increased. Plastic waste such as masks and gloves was washed on remote Asian beaches, while the number of takeaway food and online shopping reached a new high, leading to mountains of waste in landfills around the world.

　　A recent study published by Pew Research Center, SYSTEMIQ and scientists around the world pointed out that if governments do not take any action, the amount of plastic waste flowing into the ocean each year will rise from the current 11 million tons to 29 million tons; 20 years later, The accumulation of plastic waste in the ocean may be as much as 600 million tons, which is equivalent to 3 million blue whales.

　　To solve this problem, the solutions proposed by the researchers include reducing the growth of plastic production and consumption, replacing some plastics with alternatives such as paper and compostable materials, designing recyclable products and packaging, and expanding waste in low- and middle-income countries. Collection rate, increase recycling and reduce plastic waste exports, etc.

　　According to the report, since 1950, the global annual plastic production has been increasing rapidly. At that time, the total global plastic was 1 million tons, and in 2017 it had reached 348 million tons. Research estimates that this number will double by 2040.