lastic pollution is drowning and poisoning the planet. While plastics have contributed to economic growth, their current production and consumption patterns – based on a linear model – are major drivers of natural resource depletion, waste generation, green-house gas emissions and adverse effects on both the environment and human health. From the extraction of fossil fuels to production, manufacturing and disposal, plastics pose a significant threat to humans, animals and ecosystems.

More than 460 million metric tonnes of plastic is produced annually for use in a wide range of applications. It is estimated that 20 million metric tonnes of plastic litter ends up in the environment every year. The figure is expected to rise substantially by 2040. The trend presents a serious threat to the global community, demanding urgent action to address the crisis.

Poor waste management is one of the leading causes of plastic pollution. Plastics can take up to 100 years to decompose. If not managed properly, they accumulate in the environment, potentially circling the globe. In 2020, Pakistan produced 3.9 million tonnes of plastic waste, of which 65 per cent was mismanaged. Approximately 18 per cent of municipal solid waste in Pakistan is plastic. Only 3 per cent of the plastic used by the manufacturing industry comes from recycled material. According to the World Bank, just 27 per cent of Pakistan’s plastic waste is recycled. The remainder goes into landfills and open spaces.

UN assessments indicate more than 3.3 million tonnes of plastic waste in Pakistan a year. The waste is projected to reach 12 million tonnes per year by 2040, causing significant damage to both the environment and public health. Globally, only 9 per cent of plastic waste is recycled. Plastic production is responsible for 4 per cent of the green-house gas emissions.

The lack of recycling infrastructure significantly exacerbates plastic pollution. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, global plastic consumption is expected to double by 2040 compared to 2016 levels. This surge will generate around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Alarmingly, only 36 million tonnes of this waste will be recycled, leaving 364 million tonnes of plastic unrecycled each year.

Conventional plastic production is an energy-intensive process, with 98 per cent of the materials derived from fossil fuels like crude oil. This not only drives greenhouse gas emissions but also contributes to the ongoing climate change crisis. A recent report by GRID-Arendal, a UNEP partner, on the climate impacts of plastics revealed that plastic production and degradation release significant amounts of greenhouse gases. The report estimates that plastics account for approximately 4 per cent of global green-house gas emissions annually.

Circularity offers a solution by keeping plastics within the economy and out of the environment. This approach focuses on minimising waste generation, promoting recycling and reusing plastic materials. It moves away from the traditional linear model of production, consumption and disposal, which results in significant resource loss and environmental harm.

A shift in our approach and behaviour towards the design, use and reuse of plastics is essential. If we fail to act, by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in our rivers. By transitioning to a circular economy, Pakistan can decrease its reliance on natural resources, reduce green-house gas emissions and build resilience against the growing threat of plastic waste.

Adopting plastic circularity is not only crucial for tackling plastic pollution, but it also offers significant economic, social and environmental benefits. By 2040, transitioning to a circular economy could reduce the amount of plastic entering our oceans by 80 per cent, lower green-house gas emissions by 25 per cent, save $200 billion annually and create 700,000 additional jobs.

For decades, the global economy has been dominated by the linear take-make-dispose model, where plastics are produced, used and discarded. Businesses have invested heavily in infrastructure, machinery and supply chains that support this linear system. Shifting away from this entrenched model to more sustainable practices poses significant challenges, particularly in terms of cost and logistics.

Transitioning to plastic circularity requires substantial advances in technology, innovation and behaviour. Governments can play a key role by introducing extended producer responsibility policies that hold manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their plastic products. This could include developing materials that can be re-used without degrading in quality and offering incentives for incorporating recycled materials into production.

The shift to a circular plastic economy faces significant challenges, particularly in providing financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises. Without adequate funding, many SMEs struggle to adopt sustainable practices. There is a need for financial incentives, tax breaks, reward systems, market access and advanced technology to encourage the private sector to embrace sustainable approaches. With the right public and private sector support—such as mentoring and capacity building—SMEs and startups can overcome barriers to accessing finance and successfully transition to circular models.

Another obstacle is the limited consideration of plastics in key legislation, leading to gaps in addressing their environmental impact. Many environmental regulations focus on general pollution control or waste management but do not integrate the principles of a circular economy. Governments should introduce mandatory recycling targets for plastics, ensuring a significant and growing percentage of plastic waste is recycled across all industries. These targets should be ambitious, with progressive increases over time. Additionally, eco-design standards for plastic products must be established to make it easier for businesses to adopt circular practices globally.

Unfavourable regulations and a lack of clear standards can significantly hinder innovation and progress across industries. A key issue is the lack of knowledge and awareness about the impact of existing policies and how effective they have been in reducing plastic pollution. Despite numerous policies aimed at addressing this issue, plastic pollution persists. The ban on plastic bags is primarily a policy issue. A long-term, comprehensive policy is needed—one that integrates perspectives from the business sector.

Currently, there is no clear policy on green procurement or extended producer responsibility. These are vital for promoting circularity. The government must develop a holistic policy framework for businesses to foster circular economic practices.

Another challenge is the lack of consumer awareness, which often hampers the success of sustainable practices in plastic circularity. Consumer behaviour has a role in plastic waste generation. Incorrect waste disposal and the casual discarding of plastic products due to a lack of awareness are major contributors to plastic pollution.

Advocacy campaigns can educate the public and encourage a shift towards eco-friendly practices. These campaigns can be made more effective by engaging teachers to create youth clubs in schools, colleges and universities, which promote the 4Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, reorient) as a way to achieve plastic circularity.

Pakistan needs to adopt a sustainable and circular economy approach both in the public and private sectors. To mitigate the adverse effects of the current mainly linear plastics production model and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, we need to increase plastics production from renewable sources. Production processes and products should be redesigned to improve longevity, reusability and recyclability, as well as to prevent waste and chemical pollution.

The writer is a research assistant/ lecturer at COMSATS University, Lahore campus.