OECD Report on Plastic Waste

What Is It?

A detailed environmental outlook by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) evaluating the trends of plastic production, disposal, leakage, and policy alternatives in the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) area.

Main Patterns and Insights:

Surge in Plastic Consumption: Expected to increase from 152 million tonnes (2022) to 280 million tonnes by 2050 in APT nations.

Waste Production: Plastic waste is projected to rise from 113 million tonnes to 242 million tonnes by 2050.

Packaging Waste: An increase from 49 million tonnes to 91 million tonnes.

Mismanaged Waste: Even with the percentage decrease (29% in 2022 → 23% in 2050), the total amount increases from 33 to 56 million tonnes.

Plastic Leakage: 8.4 million tons escaped into the ecosystem in 2022; projected to reach 14.1 million tons by 2050, jeopardizing oceans, rivers, and public health.

Climate Consequences: Lifecycle emissions from plastics are expected to increase nearly twofold from 0.6 to 1 GtCO₂e by 2050