The Lancet Countdown on health and plastics

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Toxicology

Background:

• Plastic production has surged from 2 Mt in 1950 to 475 Mt in 2022, with projections reaching 1200 Mt by 2060.
• Over 8000 Mt of plastic waste pollutes the planet, with less than 10% recycled, exacerbating health and environmental crises.
• Plastic-related diseases and deaths impact all age groups, causing over US$1.5 trillion in annual health economic losses, disproportionately affecting low-income populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the escalating global plastic pollution crisis and its profound impacts on human and planetary health.
• To establish a comprehensive, legally binding international agreement, the Global Plastics Treaty, covering the full lifecycle of plastic.
• To launch an independent, indicator-based global monitoring system, the Lancet Countdown on health and plastics, for tracking progress.

Main Methods:

• Developing a suite of geographically and temporally representative indicators.
• Establishing an independent, indicator-based global monitoring system.
• Regularly reporting on progress toward reducing plastic exposures and mitigating harms.

Main Results:

• Plastic production and pollution continue to rise, posing significant risks to health and the economy.
• Current recycling rates remain critically low, indicating insufficient mitigation of plastic waste.
• The Global Plastics Treaty and the Lancet Countdown initiative represent crucial steps toward addressing the crisis.

Conclusions:

• The escalating plastic crisis necessitates urgent, evidence-based, and globally coordinated action.
• Effective laws and policies, adequately financed and implemented, are essential for mitigating plastic harms.
• Continuous monitoring through systems like the Lancet Countdown is vital for tracking progress and ensuring accountability in addressing plastic pollution.