BREAKING DOWN HIGH-RISK PLASTIC PRODUCTS

The report establishes a framework to categorize plastic products into 17 core groups based on their properties, use patterns, and pollution risks. It prioritizes these groups using a risk-based analysis (probability of environmental entry and resulting impact) and further classifies them into Class I (feasible for elimination or significant reduction by 2035) and Class II (requiring safe circulation and management). The findings suggest that while some single-use items and intentionally added microplastics can be eliminated, others—such as medical packaging and fishing gear—require management-focused controls due to technical or socioeconomic constraints.

• The report identifies 17 core product groups that share similar risk features and suitability for regulation, arguing that this product-group approach is the most effective way to inform global controls and treaty annexes.
• A risk-based analysis determines that certain plastic products are higher priorities for regulation based on the probability of entering the environment and the resulting impacts on human health and ecosystems.
• The research proposes a regulatory hierarchy for product controls that prioritizes elimination first, followed by reduction, safe circulation, and finally safe management.
• Class I product groups are those where production, consumption, and trade can be eliminated or significantly reduced by approximately 2035 without major negative consequences. This includes certain single-use packaging, specific single-use items, and intentionally added microplastics.
• Class II product groups are those where elimination is not currently feasible due to technical, socioeconomic reasons, or the risk of unintended environmental consequences from substitutions. These require controls focused on safe circulation and management.
• Single-use food and beverage packaging is identified as the largest application of plastics and poses a high pollution risk due to high volumes of lightweight, low-value items designed for 'on the go' consumption.
• Certain characteristic-specific products, such as wet wipes and cigarette butts, are among the most common single-use plastic items found in marine and terrestrial environments and are recommended for Class I controls only.
• Longer-life products, specifically car tyres and synthetic textiles, are identified as significant sources of secondary microplastic pollution through wear and tear and laundering.
• Sector-specific plastics used in fishing, aquaculture, and agriculture are high-risk because they are used in direct contact with the environment, but they are currently classified under Class II controls because evidence for large-scale alternatives is insufficient.
• Intentionally added primary microplastics, such as microbeads in personal care products, are deemed highly feasible for elimination (Class I), whereas preproduction plastics (pellets) cannot be eliminated as a product group and require leakage prevention (Class II).

APA

Huu, H. H., Sørfonn, S. W., Lindebjerg, E. S., Duncan, J., Khishchenko, E., Stunell, D., Bapasola, A., Crick, T., McLean-House, C., Watson, S., Ainger, N., Ergün, E., & Lokanoğlu, H. (2023). BREAKING DOWN HIGH-RISK PLASTIC PRODUCTS. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/67/wwf_breaking_down_high_risk_plastic_products.pdf

Chicago

Huu, Huy Ho, Silje Woxholth Sørfonn, Eirik S. Lindebjerg, John Duncan, Elena Khishchenko, Daniel Stunell, Ayesha Bapasola, et al. BREAKING DOWN HIGH-RISK PLASTIC PRODUCTS. WWF International, 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/67/wwf_breaking_down_high_risk_plastic_products.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Huu |first1=Huy Ho |last2=Sørfonn |first2=Silje Woxholth |last3=Lindebjerg |first3=Eirik S. |last4=Duncan |first4=John |last5=Khishchenko |first5=Elena |last6=Stunell |first6=Daniel |last7=Bapasola |first7=Ayesha |last8=Crick |first8=Tom |last9=McLean-House |first9=Cassidy |display-authors=etal |title=BREAKING DOWN HIGH-RISK PLASTIC PRODUCTS |publisher=WWF International |date=May 2023 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/67/wwf_breaking_down_high_risk_plastic_products.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{huu2023breaking, author = {Huu, Huy Ho and Sørfonn, Silje Woxholth and Lindebjerg, Eirik S. and Duncan, John and Khishchenko, Elena and Stunell, Daniel and Bapasola, Ayesha and Crick, Tom and McLean-House, Cassidy and Watson, Steve and Ainger, Nicola and Ergün, Ender and Lokanoğlu, Hakan}, title = {{BREAKING DOWN HIGH-RISK PLASTIC PRODUCTS}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/67/wwf_breaking_down_high_risk_plastic_products.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }