STEPS researchers: All measures to address the plastics problem will fall flat if we ignore increased production
The price of some recycled plastics is now higher than for new virgin plastics. Meanwhile, plastics production is set to double in the next twenty years. As long as we are not focusing on the root cause of the problem: increased production, measures to address the plastics problem will fall flat say researchers at Lund University.
A new research study from STEPS shows that there is no political interest in the initial stages of the plastic life cycle; that is, which raw materials are used and which investments must be made in the production facilities. On the other hand, there is great interest in the later parts of the plastic life cycle, when the plastic has become waste.