Plastic Recycling Goes Wrong

Is it possible to picture modern life without plastic? Not a chance! 

Plastic Recycling Goes Wrong

From the packaging that keeps our food fresh to the parts of our vehicles and smartphones, clothing and household items, plastic has become an essential part of our lives, an item that can serve a variety of purposes.But all of this comes at a heavy environmental price, resulting in a global cost to the environment.

To properly address these problems, we need to understand plastic's entire life cycle from where it is made to its end of life.

A recent research published in Nature -  Communications Earth & Environment in April 2025 has provided an understanding of this complicated system relying on a global material flow analysis (MFA) regarding trade for the year 2022, which offers valuable insights into the plastic supply chain's global complexity. 

The research demonstrates the massive scale of the plastic industry. The world produced 400 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic in 2022. This is made up of 362 Mt of virgin plastic resin and a little over 38 Mt of secondary plastic from mechanical recycling. 

The demand for plastic has grown significantly over recent decades and has quadrupled previously, with projections for it to double again by 2050.

Plastic Recycling Goes Wrong

What are the sources of these plastics?

The analysis indicates that 98% of virgin plastics are derived from fossil fuels, with 44% sourced from coal, 40% from petroleum, and 8% from natural gas. The quantity of bio-based plastics is extremely small, with only 2% sourced from incumbent bio-based sources. 

The reliance on fossil fuels for the production of plastic raises some environmental concerns, especially given the role of coal in the majority of China’s plastic manufacturing (as well as concerns related to climate change). 

Plastic Recycling Goes Wrong

Once raw plastics are made, they start a twisted journey around the world. The analysis reveals that there is a clear geographic concentration in the supply chain. For instance, each phase of production is limited to a country or region based on its resources or capacity. Feedstock development is predominantly concentrated in oil-resource-providing countries, while processing and production take place in countries with excess manufacturing capacity.

The research reports the trade of plastics in various stages:

The overall feedstock trade for plastics was estimated to be 71 Mt globally in 2022.

Exports, the EU28 is the largest exporter (31%), followed by Other Asia (26%), and the USA (14%).

Imports, China was the largest importer (31%), followed closely by the EU28 (30%).

Considering Additive, Primary Plastics Around, and Intermediate Forms and Manufactured Plastics, Other Asia is the top exporter.

Final Plastics Products represents the largest share of trade, with 111 Mt traded globally. China was the dominant exporter (45%), while the EU28 was the largest importer (35%), followed by the USA (20%).

In 2022, international trade in plastic waste totaled 6.66 Mt. The EU28 was the largest exporter (49%) and, at over 52%, also the top importer of plastic waste, making it a net importer of plastic waste. This shift may be linked to the introduction of the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments in 2021, which could require pretreatment of waste and could encourage developed countries to import cleaner plastic scraps for recycling.

China's 2018 ban on plastic waste imports has altered the global trade for waste. Japan, Other Asia, and the Middle East were other top exporting and importing countries.

The massive amounts of plastic trading that occur throughout the phases illustrate how plastics are integrated into the global economy and how complicated managing the flow of this material can be.

After plastics are used for their purpose, the issue of what to do with the used plastics needs to be addressed.

Plastic Recycling Goes Wrong

In 2022, 267.68 Mt of plastic waste was created worldwide.

The analysis showed that there is a drastic change in plastic waste disposal methods:

The rise of incineration as a notable method of plastic waste management, accounting for 34% of treatment. Japan (70%), China (60%), and the EU28 (38%) have an especially high incidence of plastic waste management through incineration, likely due to reasons such as energy recovery and waste management targets.

However, incineration needs to be well controlled and science-based, as contaminants and pollutants can be emitted into the environment from incineration.

Landfill waste disposal is shrinking, but it is also significantly large, and at least 40% of plastic waste management worldwide is through landfill disposal. The good news is that 40% is an improvement for the environment in previous years and historically. An example of this is the USA, where 76% of plastic waste is still disposed of in landfills.

Limited progress can be attributed to several reasons, including the wide range and complexity of plastic materials, contamination concerns, higher costs than producing new plastics, and insufficient product design to support recycling.

Research indicates an urgent need to develop recycling infrastructure and practices on a global scale. Some areas, such as the EU and Japan, have set ambitious recycling goals for plastics as part of a circular economy approach. In contrast, other countries face significant challenges with low recycling rates.

The reliance on fossil fuels for plastic production presents another major issue and contributes to environmental pollution. Bioplastics could serve as an alternative, but they come with their own set of challenges, including emissions during production, competition for land use with food production, and economic concerns.

There is a compelling argument for transitioning to a circular economy for plastics, which involves reducing consumption, reusing products, increasing recycling rates, and restoring ecosystems affected by plastic pollution. 

Informal recycling sectors in many developing countries play a significant role in waste management but often operate under hazardous conditions, requiring integrated approaches to improve their practices and protect workers.

Understanding the intricate global flows and stocks of plastics is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution and promote sustainable management.

Plastic Recycling Goes Wrong