Plastic Waste Makers Index Claims World Producing More Single-Use Waste Than Ever

Minderoo Foundation has published the Plastic Waste Makers Index, which claims that more single-use plastics are being produced despite efforts to reduce dependency on the material.

Australia-based Minderoo Foundation, which was founded in 2001, is a philanthropic organization advocating for a "truly circular plastics economy, where fossil fuels are no longer used to produce plastics."

"Better waste management is part of the solution – it is paramount that we halt the increase in pollution and the threat to our health from microplastics," said Dr Andrew Forrest AO, Chairman, Minderoo Foundation. "But that effort must be combined with reducing the production of new plastics from fossil fuels."

Despite increasing educational and legislative efforts, an additional 6 million metric tons (MMT) generated in 2021 compared to 2019, almost entirely from virgin feedstocks. The index noted that while virgin polymer production is expected to increase slower than historical rate  - 2.7% CAGR in 2021-27 versus 3.9% in 2005-20 -  an additional 60 MMT of virgin polymers will be produced by 2027. About 17 MMT is expected for single-use plastic production.

In addition, Minderoo said that "most emissions are produced by the oil and gas and petrochemical industries in the 'upstream' part of the lifecycle. Mechanical recycling reduces cradle-to-grave emissions by at least 30 to 40 percent compared to producing polymers from fossil fuels by avoiding upstream emissions."

The organization added that the opportunities to reduce GHG emissions in recycling are "significant" but only part of the solution.

Concerns about the scalability of global recycling infrastructure were also explained in the report. Minderoo alleged that "petrochemical companies are (naturally) only expanding into recycling in markets where the economic conditions are (somewhat) more favorable."

The report noted two "outliers" to the fight against plastic pollution: Taiwan's Far Taiwan's Far Eastern New Century and Thailand's Indorama Ventures.

"A further eight companies have recently set ambitious 2030 recycled targets of at least 20 percent of production," Minderoo stated. "Compared to the first edition of the Plastic Waste Makers Index (2021), there are signs that the industry, in general, is taking circularity more seriously, but this will only amount to greenwashing if representations are not made good with action and investment."

In response to the index, the American Chemistry Council released the following statement: 

Considering the Minderoo Foundation is funded by dividends from a multi-billion dollar metal mining company, there is a clear financial incentive to release a report that recommends taxing plastics as plastics often compete with metal in material applications," said an American Chemistr"What’s missing from the report are the sustainability benefits plastics provide, particularly when comparing lifecycle carbon impacts between plastic and metal uses.