On July 28, 2023, earth saw its first Plastic Overshoot Day – the day the amount of plastic waste surpassed the capability of global waste management systems.
Key Insights from the Plastic Overshoot Day Report
- As per the Plastic Overshoot Day report 2023, by 2040 plastic production is set to double, with plastic pollution is expected to triple.
- Nearly 68,642,999 tonnes of additional plastic waste will end up in nature this year
- The report identifies 12 countries responsible for 52% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste.
- India is among them, alongside China, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Mexico, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, and Kazakhstan.
- The three countries with the highest mismanaged waste percentages—Mozambique (99.8%), Nigeria (99.44%), and Kenya (98.9%) belong to Africa.
- Short-life plastics, including plastic packaging and single-use plastics, make up approximately 37% of the total plastic used annually. These categories pose a higher risk of leakage into the environment.
- When it comes to plastic consumption on a per-person basis, the world’s worst offender is Iceland, with annual consumption of 128.9 kg per person
How is Plastic Overshoot Day Determined?
- Plastic Overshoot Day is determined based on a country’s Mismanaged Waste Index (MWI).
- The imbalance between the volumes of plastic that are produced and used, as well as the world’s ability to manage those volumes when they become waste, is the root cause of plastic pollution.
- The gap in waste management capacity and plastic consumption is called MWI.
India’s Role in the Plastic Pollution Crisis
- Overshoot Day for India, or the date when the amount of plastic waste outweighed the country’s ability to manage it, was January 6 2023.
- India has Mismanaged Waste Index (MWI) (ratio of the mismanaged waste and the total waste) of over 98%
- India’s per-person consumption is 5.3 kg, significantly lower than the global average of 20.9 kg.
- India categorized as ‘The Waste Sponges’: It contributed a staggering over 73 lakh ton of mismanaged plastic waste in 2023
- 33 % of its total plastic waste was imported, while the country exported 0.8 % of its total waste
- India will contribute an average of 16.7 days of plastic overshoot to the environment in 2023.
The Impact of Plastic Pollution
- Plastic Overshoot Day is a wake-up call, shedding light on short-life plastics’ environmental impact and their higher risk of leakage into the environment.
- Plastic pollution particularly impacts developing countries like India, which are categorized as ‘waste sponges’ due to their low plastic consumption but high plastic pollution levels.
Recommendations for Tackling Plastic Pollution
- The report emphasizes the urgent need for action to combat plastic pollution, suggesting measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies and phasing out non-circular plastics.
- Governments can implement bans or restrictions on the production and use of single-use plastics, especially those that are not easily recyclable or biodegradable.
- Global treaties and agreements, like the proposed UN Plastic Treaty, can help set international standards for plastic waste management and pollution reduction.
- Individuals can contribute by making conscious choices to reduce their use of single-use plastics, opting for reusable products, and properly disposing of plastic waste
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