WHAT ARE SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS?

The document argues that current plastic production and consumption are unsustainable and that solutions must be applied based on specific product applications to avoid trade-offs between durability, biodegradability, and recyclability. It highlights the risks of chemical additives and the inefficiency of waste management systems, particularly the export of plastic waste from Europe to Asia. The authors propose a comprehensive definition of sustainable plastics based on environmental, economic, and social criteria to guide the UNEP's international policy instrument.

• Three primary approaches to sustainable product design—design for recycling, design for biodegradation, and design for durability—often conflict with one another. For instance, chemical additives used to increase durability can hinder recycling, while biodegradable plastics can contaminate recycling batches and reduce the quality of recycled materials, potentially increasing the demand for virgin plastics.
• Waste management systems, including those in Europe, struggle with increasing plastic volumes. The document estimates that approximately half of Europe's plastic waste is exported, primarily to Asia, where it is often incinerated or landfilled due to inferior facilities. Relying solely on recycling targets may inadvertently increase these exports.
• Chemical additives used to improve plastic properties can cause toxic emissions and limit the use of recycled materials. There is a significant knowledge gap regarding the combined effects of multiple additives on health and the environment, with some research suggesting their impact may exceed that of microplastics.
• The authors propose a definition of sustainable plastics based on several conditions: plastics should only be used when they are the most effective and sustainable option; non-renewable resources must be avoided; renewable resource use must not exceed regeneration capacity; environmental impacts must not exceed the environment's capacity to restore itself; and the principles of circularity must be implemented to limit resource depletion.

APA

S., G., V., D. G., & H., D. C. (n.d.). WHAT ARE SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS? Climate Strategies. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Plastics-Report-Final-1.pdf

Chicago

S., Gonella,, de Gooyert, V., and de Coninck, H. WHAT ARE SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS? Climate Strategies, n.d. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Plastics-Report-Final-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=S. |first1=Gonella, |last2=V. |first2=de Gooyert, |last3=H. |first3=de Coninck, |title=WHAT ARE SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS? |publisher=Climate Strategies |url=https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Plastics-Report-Final-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sndwhat, author = {S., Gonella, and V., de Gooyert, and H., de Coninck,}, title = {{WHAT ARE SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS?}}, institution = {Climate Strategies}, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Plastics-Report-Final-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }